VASCO
The Goenchea Ramponkarancho Ekvott (GRE), a federation of traditional fishing communities in the State, has decided to extend support to Congress party, provided it considers and implements the demands of the fishing community.
After submitting a list of 30 demands of the traditional Goan fishing communities to the Congress party, GRE President Agnelo Rodrigues told reporters that fishermen were the original coastal dwellers and have been demanding that their rights be protected in the interest of their livelihood and the environment.
“The interests of affluent stakeholders have always been given priority, thereby trampling over the livelihood of poor traditional fishermen. Political parties and successive elected governments have been making lofty pre-poll promises and are turning a blind eye after being elected to power.”
“The current State government has introduced several anti-fishermen and anti-environment projects that have threatened the future of our livelihood and the marine ecology of the State. Hence, we approached the Congress extending support provided it considers and implements the demands of the fishing community,” said Rodrigues.
In its list of demands, the GRE has demanded a stop to the dilution of the Coastal Regulation Zone and scrapping of the CRZ notification 2019 and de-notificiation of MPT’s jurisdiction over inland and coastal waters.
The GRE also wants proposed marinas at Sancoale and Nauxim scrapped in toto, compensation to 30 houses demolished by authorities and legalisation of 53 fishermen’s houses at Baina and 360 houses at Kharewada.
Other demands include a separate ministry for fisheries and fishermen’s welfare, recognition and protection of the rights of the small and traditional fishing communities, implementation of the 5-km ban to avoid violations by trawlers, extending the fishing ban from 61 to 90 days and provision of cold and dry storage facilities at all fish markets across the State for traditional fishermen.
The GRE has also demanded a ban on bull trawling, LED lights and purse seining, building of ramps/mini jetties on priority for traditional fishermen, ITI course on fishing, reservation for fishing community and representation at assembly elections and loans at an interest of 4 % pa to traditional fishermen.
