PANAJI
Less than three months after it aborted the decision, the State government's Fisheries Department has revived it by issuing a diktat to traditional Goan fishermen to register their 'stakes' with the necessary documents.
'Stakes' are traditionally used devices generally made of bamboo poles fitted with nets which are planted in strategic fishing grounds across rivers and backwaters in Goa to catch fish.
In its 'public notice' issued on Thursday, the Fisheries Department has asked individual fishermen as well as collectives like cooperative societies of fishermen, to apply "at the earliest" for registering their fishing 'stakes' with the requisite documents through the block level fisheries officer.
The notice points out that registering to erect the fishing stakes anywhere in Goan waters is mandated in the Goa Marine Fishing Regulation Act.
The notice also defines 'fishing stakes' as any device used to capture fish and is made up of poles or other supports, enclosed with a net or other screening material and anchored permanently or semi-permanently in the waters.
Interestingly, the fisheries department had in January-February this year introduced a new regime for all forms of fishing which mandated registration of equipment.
This new regime had also prescribed licence fees for all equipment, including tools used for sport fishing and traditional fishing methods, widely practiced in Goa's rivers and backwaters, including hundreds of catchments of sluice-gates (manos).
Cast net (pagear), traps (koblem), hook and line, longlines (lambari) and any other fishing net/gear in addition to 'stakes' were mentioned as the equipment which required registration for use anywhere in Goa.
The State government however aborted the decision and withdrew the notification days after The Goan reported it triggering widespread criticism across the State.
