VASCO
Kharewado jetty witnessed tense moments on Wednesday morning after the fisheries department staff along with Vasco police placed barricades at the entry and exit points, blocking access to vehicles to and from the fishing hub.
The department staff issued a notice that all fish traders and boat owners not selling fish to agents must register themselves as individual fishermen with the fisheries department and pay the necessary registration fees and security deposit.
Several vehicles loaded with fish inside the jetty were not allowed to move out, while vehicles were not allowed to enter the jetty to load the fish.
Later, the fishing boat owners led by President Jose Philip D'Souza had a meeting and confronted the staff of the fisheries office and sought to know why a registered fishing boat along with the owner needed yet another registration.
Jose Philip D'Souza later called the fisheries director, warning that the fresh catch of the day would get spoilt but sources said there was no proper response, which escalated the tension.
However, after discussions, the gates were opened and vehicles began to move to and from the Kharewado jetty.
Jose Philip D'Souza said the fishing association from across Goa would meet and take the call on their next step.
"The fisheries department must first give us a proper jetty and facilities before they can ask us for registration again. We cannot suddenly wake up and have police and barricades at our gate and block access.”
“The fisheries department should have taken us into confidence and we could have got some time. The government has failed to provide us with any benefits and is only indulging in harassment.”
“We will soon have a meeting of all fishing centres in Goa to decide on our next step. The department had now opened the gates after we sought time to discuss the requests of the fisheries department," said D'Souza.
