MARGAO
Weather played spoilsport to the new fishing season as the rough sea prevented mechanised fishing boats from venturing out for fishing on Thursday.
In fact, Day one of the fishing season was marred by rough sea conditions as strong and gusty winds came in the way of the fishing operations.
At the Cutbona fishing jetty, a number of fishing vessels were all geared up to start the new fishing season on Thursday. The fishing boats, however, lay all anchored at the fishing jetty as the weather Gods were not kind to them in the beginning of the new fishing season.
Former Cutbona Boat Owners Union president Savio D’Siva pointed out that the fishing vessels were all geared up to venture out in the sea, but weather played spoil sport.
Though the hostile navigation issues at the mouth of river Sal also hamper movement of fishing vessels operating from the Cutbona fishing jetty for want of a breakwater facility, D’Silva said the main reason why fishing boats could not venture out in the sea was the rough sea condition.
Cutbona jetty is the home for over 150 fishing vessels. Migrant labour of many of these fishing vessels has already reported at the Cutbona fishing jetty. A number of fishing vessels have already loaded fishing nets as well as ice as they had geared up to venture out on Day one of the new fishing season, but in vain.
With the IMD issuing red alert predicting heavy rainfall accompanied by strong and gusty winds, mechanised boat owners are keeping their fingers crossed over the commencement of the new fishing season.
Another mechanised boat owner pointed out that besides the rough sea conditions, fishing boats operating from the Cutbona fishing jetty will have to contend with the hostile navigation issues at the mouth of river Sal. “Right now, our fishing boats are all anchored at the Cutbona fishing jetty. But, as and when the situation is conducive for venturing out in the sea, we only hope the conditions at the river Sal mouth will facilitate the movement of the fishing vessels”, he said.
Traditional fishing
comes to halt
After fishing in the choppy waters for the last three days, traditional fishermen have finally anchored their motorised canoes along the Benaulim-Colva beach stretch.
A visit to the Benaulim beach on Thursday has revealed after the initial hustle and bustle, all fishing operations by the traditional fishermen has come to a screeching halt. In fact, one will come across the motorised canoes all anchored along the coast, with the fishermen waiting for the conducive conditions in the sea to venture out.
Benaulim-based traditional fisherman Pele Fernandes informed that fishermen from the fishing village had managed to net moderate quantity of the prized solar shrimp in the first two days of fishing activities. “No doubt, we managed to net moderate quantity of solar shrimp in the first two days. Since Wednesday, our boats have been lying anchored on the beach with inclement weather and rough sea conditions”, he said.
Fish agents, who have set up makeshift purchase amenity at Benaulim, say they were able to purchase moderate quantity of the prized solar shrimp, adding that the fishing activity has virtually come to a halt in the last two days.
