PANAJI
Urging the citizens to protect the water bodies, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Monday expressed worry over the growing trend wherein outsiders have taken over the fishing industry, with more and more non-Goans getting into fish trade.
Speaking at an event of the Fisheries Department, Sawant also raised concern over people throwing waste into the rivers thus polluting and contaminating it.
“There was a time when we used to hear ‘Nuste zai go bai’ but off late, we hear different languages,” he said, adding ‘it’s high time that Goans get back into this trade and dominate the sector’.
Sawant said that the government proposes to introduce degree courses in Fisheries from the coming academic year. He said that the government is currently supporting four students, who are pursuing degree courses, outside the State.
Sawant said that with more students taking up fisheries, the State would be in a better position to develop new technologies in the fishing industry.
Earlier speaking, he said that plastic bags with religious offerings as well as other wastes are thrown in rivers and other water bodies thus damaging the marine ecosystem. He said that this practice needs to be stopped in order to protect marine life.
“I have seen people stopping on bridges or along the sideways of water bodies only to throw waste in the water. This not only harms marine life but also poses health risks to humans,” he said.
The Chief Minister launched three significant projects Matsya Malaya Vahini, Matsya Aahar and Artificial Reef under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) scheme. The Matsya Malaya Vahini is an eco-friendly, moveable fish kiosk designed to enhance fish transportation from landing sites to markets.
Matsya Aahar is a fish retail outlet and AC restaurant built from shipping containers. It includes live fish vending and a rooftop barbecue, with a capacity of 5,000 kg per kiosk and requiring ten staff. Twenty-five units, totaling Rs 2.5 crores, are set to be sanctioned.
The artificial reefs project aims to boost marine biodiversity and fish stocks by deploying three reef models -- Triangle, Wellring, and Grouper -- along the coast. These reefs will offer shelter and breeding grounds, benefiting the fishing community.
