the goan I network
PANAJI
Despite hundreds of trawlers carrying out illegal fishing in the River Zuari, and despite it being brought to the notice of the government several times by the local fishing community and other locals, the government refuses to address the problem giving several excuses like ‘Fisheries staff on leave being Saturday’ and ‘Coastal Security Patrol boat under repairs.’
Under the Marine Fishing Regulation Act 1980, fishing with trawl nets and purse seine nets is illegal within five kilometers from the coast. Under Section 4(2)(c) of the Goa, Daman and Diu Marine Fishing Regulation Act 1980, it is the primary duty of the Fisheries Department to maintain law and order at sea. Yet, illegal fishing has gone up by double in the month of February this year as opposed to January.
A letter submitted by Sebastiao Rodrigues on behalf of the Bharat Mukti Morcha, an NGO, on Friday to the Fisheries Secretary cites that in January, there were 151 trawlers carrying out illegal fishing, while in February, this number had increased to 372 trawlers in the stretch from Siridao to Odxel.
Between February 2 and 5 itself there were 10 instances of illegal fishing activities carried out by trawlers, and though when contacted on February 6, the Fisheries Secretary told them that patrolling had started, illegal fishing continued through the month, with the organisation recording the date, time and number of trawlers violating the law each time.
“Coastal police has refused to shoulder the burden of illegal fishing in the Zuari River saying that it is not their primary duty,” said Rodrigues.
Repeated faxes and calls to the fisheries control room to register complaints about the illegal fishing has
proved futile.
