Drastic decline in fish catch last year
the goan I network
PANAJI
The reduction in catch is clear to see and a ban on LED lights will help save the natural resource for the future they feel.
According to estimates released by the fisheries department, the State had registered a total of 87,984 tonnes of marine production for the year 2013. This figure saw a massive jump in 2014 with a total of 1,28,107 tonnes of fish being caught. What is now baffling is the drastic decline the year after. A report by the Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) has, however, revealed Goa’s share of marine production in 2015 dropped to 68,561 tonnes.
The rise and fall in fish catch is evident at the ground level too. Sitakant Parab, president of the All Goa Fishing Boat Owners Union, who himself has a couple of boats has admitted fish catch has reduced drastically leaving the entire market in a supply-demand game.
“There have been certain species like the Pink Perch which we would generally get in huge quantities. Today, however, it has become uneconomical for us because we get only a few kilos to sell,” he said.
Ribbon fish too has suffered a similar fate. The months of September to December used to fetch tonnes of the species, until last year. The department saw 1,107 tonnes being netted in 2013 but only 376 tonnes in 2014.
