MARGAO
The boat owners contended that the government should come out with a study on fishing with LED lights as the Fisheries Department is seized with the issue.
Some of the members, however, were highly critical over SEAI’s petition to the Prime Minister on fishing techniques using LED lights, high speed engines and bull trawling that they claim are being employed by vessels.
Former Union president Seby Cardozo statd the seafood exporters have no knowledge of fishing, and added that they should concentrate only on the business of seafood export.
“They have no knowledge or idea about fishing. They are only in the business of fish exports. It is the government that has to decide on the legality or illegality of fishing using certain techniques. Fish exporters have no right to comment on fishing techniques,” he said.
While pointing out that seafood exporters have only interest in the export of fish, Seby asserted that they should not interfere with the fishing industry.
Another former president Patrick D’Silva said that some of the exporters are also in the fishing business in some states and carry out fishing using high-speed engines.
“With these high-speed engines, fishing vessels from Karnataka operated by some of the seafood exporters enter Goa’s waters for fishing,” he said.
Seafood exporter M Ibrahim had told the media on Saturday that the Seafood Exporters Association of India had petitioned the Prime Minister over the rapid depletion of major marine resources which may lead to a national economic disaster.
