MARGAO
Benaulim-based fisherman Pele Fernandes on Saturday suggested to the government to constitute a committee comprising of officials and traditional fishermen to keep a track on fishing with LED lights at all the State’s jetties and landing centres.
Calling for transparency in government’s measures to reign in on LED fishing, Pele has suggested that one way to check whether the fishing vessels are carrying LED lights on board the vessels is to check the boats before they venture out in the sea for fishing.
“There are questions raised over LED fishing by the fishing vessels. The Fisheries Department may say that the fisheries officials and the police are there at the jetties to check illegal modes of fishing. I, however, have a suggestion to make. In the interest of transparency, let there be a panel comprising of officials and traditional fishermen to check the vessels before they leave the jetties for fishing,” Pele added.
Saying that fishing vessels from outside the State are into big time bull trawling close to the Goan shore, Pele has demanded that the Fisheries Department tone up the surveillance system to keep the violators at bay.
