PANAJI:
Goenchea Raponkarancho Ekvott (GRE), along with other associations, met Fisheries Minister Nilkanth Halarnkar in Porvorim to discuss 11 key demands. GRE General Secretary Olencio Simoes said the minister assured action on these issues.
GRE urged strict enforcement of the High Court of Bombay at Goa’s May 8, 2025 order banning LED light fishing, bull trawling, and pair trawling. They called for the Coast Guard, Coastal Police, and Fisheries Department to act, as violations persist.
GRE also demanded a ban on gensets/diesel generators on mechanised boats, which are misused to power banned LED lights, harming marine biodiversity and traditional fishing.
Olencio highlighted that no amendments have been made to the Goa, Daman, and Diu Marine Fishing Regulation Act since 1980. GRE seeks stricter penalties and monitoring to stop illegal fishing, regulate fish catch limits, increase fuel subsidies, extend the monsoon ban to 90 days, and hand over the SGPDA fish market to fishermen.
