THE GOAN NETWORK | MARGAO
The hustle & bustle is slowly returning at Goa’s major fishing hub, the Cutbona fishing jetty, with curtains set to come down on the 61-day fishing ban. Tucked away on the banks of the river Sal in Velim, the Cutbona jetty has emerged as a major fishing hub, playing host to over 300 fishing vessels.
Hectic preparation
begins at Cutbona
The bright sunny weather prevailing over the last two days and the conducive conditions in the sea has brought many boat owners back to the fishing jetty to gear up for the new fishing season. A visit to Cutbona during the weekend has revealed hectic preparations underway at the jetty ahead of the new fishing season.
Fishing nets which were bundled in pick-up vans and towed away in the run-up to the fishing ban are back on the jetty and unloaded in the vessels.
Loading of fuel is expected to begin once the seals of the diesel pumps located on the jetty are opened in a day or two by the Salcete Mamlatdar, appointed as receivers of the fishing jetty to implement the fishing ban.
Migrant workers
come in trickles
One could come across migrant workers coming in trickles at the Cutbona fishing jetty ahead of the season. Take note, Goa’s fishing industry is cent per cent dependent on the migrant workforce, hailing from the states of Odisha and Jharkhand. Any delay in the arrival of the manpower, for whatever reason, would play spoilsport to plans by the boat owners to start the new season with a bang.
Ice factory gears up
The ice factory located in the Fisheries complex at Cutbona is also set to go into production to facilitate the boat owners start loading ice in the fishing vessels. Ice factories in the neighbouring Cuncolim industrial estate, major ice suppliers catering to the fishing industry, are gearing up for the new season.
Bracing up with
fingers crossed
With three days left for the new season, workers were seen engaged in chipping and painting work aboard the vessels anchored at the jetty. A heavy-duty crane was spotted operating on the jetty to aid the workforce in putting things in place.
Boat owners, however, preferred to keep their fingers crossed. They pointed out that a major component of the migrant manpower is yet to report at the fishing jetty to date. That’s not all. Boat owners pointed out that not all the fishing vessels will set sail in the sea on day one of the new fishing season, with the fleet expected to go out for fishing over the next one month.
Chairman of Cutbona Fisheries Society, Vinay Tari said the migrant workers have started arriving at the jetty over the past few days. He, however, hastened to add that it will take some time before the workers hit the jetty in large numbers.
Slow start expected
“A couple of vessels may venture out on day one of the new fishing season depending on the prevailing circumstances. Cutbona plays host to over 300-plus vessels, around 350 boats to be precise. Around 99 per cent of these vessels will go out in the sea by September,” he said.
Former Cutbona Boat Owners Union president Cyprian Cardozo echoed similar sentiments.
“We expect only a few vessels to venture out in the sea on the first day of the season. More vessels will join the fleet once the crew members report at the jetty,” Cyprian said.
He added. “The bright sunny weather has brought the owners to the jetty to prepare for the new season. The Cutbona jetty wore a deserted look just a couple of days ago.”
Boat owner and president of Cutbona boat owners union Savio D’Silva said most of the vessels will venture out in the sea for fishing by next week if the bright weather conditions continue and the migrant workers report at the jetty.
