PANAJI: The Goa government has announced that it will soon roll out drone-based aerial surveillance to monitor all fishing activity along the State’s coastline, to curb illegal and unauthorised fishing practices.
Fisheries Minister Nilkant Halarnkar informed the Goa Legislative Assembly that the drone system, with a range of over 20 km and the ability to capture high-resolution images, will be used to detect, track, and identify unauthorised vessels, including those involved in illegal bull trawling. The Minister said the State is working with an agency already providing similar services in Maharashtra and that the Coast Guard and coastal police will assist in enforcement.
“Two drone test flights have already been conducted, and the trial was successful. We are currently awaiting financial approval to implement the system,” Halarnkar said, adding that the drone surveillance initiative is part of a broader plan to strengthen enforcement against illegal fishing. “Drones will serve as an additional force to the Coast Guard and coastal police. They will help completely eradicate illegal fishing,” he added.
The Minister also addressed concerns raised by MLAs regarding the feasibility and efficiency of the project. Responding to Curtorim MLA Aleixo Reginaldo Lourenco, who asked how illegal boats would be identified and apprehended, Halarnkar said the drone’s imaging capability would allow for clear tracking. “We already have two boats in operation, and more will be added as needed,” he said.
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant defended the move toward drone surveillance, calling it a “futuristic plan” that would complement traditional monitoring and ensure better control over Goa’s coastal resources. He stated that around 17-18 fishing boats involved in illegal bull trawling were seized recently and released only after fines were paid. The fishermen were detained for two days.
Opposition leader Yuri Alemao raised questions about the cost-benefit analysis between manual and drone-based monitoring, and what the follow-up mechanism would be once illegal activity is spotted. “Who will catch the boats once they’re identified?” Alemao asked, while alleging that the existing patrol boats were not in use.
Lourenco also alleged that surveillance boats are deliberately kept idle due to a nexus with bull trawler operators. Halarnkar rejected the claim, saying that action has been taken, boats have been seized, penalties imposed, and the auction of fish stock has been carried out. “We are not able to fully control the activity through manual methods alone; that’s why we are moving to drone surveillance,” he said.
Fatorda MLA and Goa Forward Party President Vijai Sardesai took the debate further, expressing concern over the State government’s inaction in preventing large-scale intrusion by trawlers from neighbouring states. “This is Goans vs Outsiders, plain and simple. And the government is failing Goans,” he said, referring to the Chief Minister’s earlier statement on drone surveillance as confirmation that trawlers from Karnataka and Gujarat are looting Goan waters.
In his response, Halarnkar maintained that the government had visuals to support enforcement and that a solution was underway.
