Vessels continue to indulge in bull trawling, pair trawling, LED light fishing: General Secretary
The Goenchea Ramponkarancho Ekvott (GRE) has strongly condemned the continued failure of the Directorate of Fisheries to curb rampant illegal fishing being carried out by outside-State trawlers, including Malpe boats from Karnataka and vessels from Maharashtra and Gujarat, operating within the territorial waters of Goa.
Despite years of complaints, GRE general Secretary Olencio Simoes said these vessels continue to indulge in bull trawling, pair trawling, and now even LED light fishing, causing massive destruction to marine resources and the livelihood of Goan traditional fishermen.
Simoes slammed the Fisheries Department and other authorities for not putting a proper enforcement system in place. He stated that these illegal fishing vessels enter Goan waters without any fear of the department and also threaten our local fishermen and also destroy their nets, which clearly exposes the lethargic and compromising attitude of the authorities. “Even after repeated complaints, nothing has changed. It appears the department is either unwilling or unable to take action,” Simoes said.
GRE has expressed serious concern that none of the directives issued by the High Court of Bombay at Goa, which mandated strict enforcement by the Coast Guard, Coastal Police, and Fisheries Department ,which have been not implemented on the ground. Instead, enforcement remains only on paper. GRE fears that the department have submitted misleading or false affidavits to the High Court, since it was directed to comply and report within three months, but no actual action is visible.
GRE has demanded urgent intervention from the Chief Minister and the Fisheries Minister to immediately strengthen the regulatory framework and enforcement mechanisms for Urgent amendment of the Goa, Daman and Diu Marine Fishing Regulation Act, 1980, particularly Rule 11, to include stronger deterrent penalties, one-time fine of Rs10 lakh on any non-Goa registered fishing vessel engaged in illegal fishing in “non-specified areas” or within Goan territorial waters and Strict implementation of High Court directions, including, formation of the 58-member enforcement wing, procurement of 5 patrol vessels for the Fisheries Department, and procurement of 7 patrol vessels for the Coastal Police, including round-the-clock monitoring by the Coast Guard of illegal fishing in both the territorial waters and the EEZ, as mandated by the High Court.
GRE warns that illegal fishing is continuing even at this very moment, and the inaction of the authorities is causing irreversible damage to marine life and pushing Goan traditional fishermen into distress and if this continuous then we will be forced to have state wide protest.
