VASCO
Stating that boat owners have faced extreme hardship due to the Covid-19 pandemic and cyclone Tauktae, the Goa Fishing Boat Owners Association (GFBOA) has requested the State government to consider fishermen and fishing boat owners for relief package under the Disaster Management Fund.
Speaking to reporters, GFBOA President Jose Philip D’Souza said the fishing season had almost come to an end, but many fishing boat owners had already stopped venturing into the sea long ago and some had not even started their business during this season.
"Many boat owners also sent all their migrant workers to their home places like Orissa and Jharkhand in special buses. This has not been a good season for us and hence, I request the government to consider fishermen for some relief package," said D’Souza.
D’Souza said the government was considering financial assistance to people who had been affected by the cyclone.
"We also suffered heavy losses and many of our boats have been damaged in the cyclone. Fishing boat owners can be also considered for a financial package under disaster management.”
“Boat owners from Vasco have not made any profits during this season and while boats in some other jetties may have made a small profit, this was spent on taking care of workers.
“Besides, migrant workers could not arrive on time due to Covid restrictions and transportation issues. As a result, many boat owners could not start early nor do business during this fishing season,” said D’Souza.
