the goan I network
PANAJI
Penalising St Andre MLA Francis Silveira over the alleged use of LED fishing by his trawler in Malvan, the Mamlatdar of Malvan-Maharsahtra on Thursday reportedly fined Silveira Rs 3.08 lakh, besides recommending the withdrawal of permission and certificate issued to the trawler.
The trawler belonging to another Goan has also been penalised by the Malvan Mamlatdar.
The Malvan Mamlatdar Ajay Patne had ordered the seizure of the two trawlers which were accused of conducting illegally LED fishing activity off the Malvan coast.
Besides imposing a fine of Rs 3,08,500 on Silveira, the mamlatdar recommended the withdrawal of permission and certificate issued to the trawler and also directed the Malvan fishing division of the Maharashtra fisheries department to peruse the matter with the Goa fisheries department.
The Malvan fishing division had seized the two trawlers belonging to Francis Silveria
and Albert D’Silva and had auctioned the fish amounting to Rs 61,700.
The fishing division had reportedly found 10 LED bulbs, two diesel generators, other fishing related material and had referred the matter to the Malvan Mamlatdar for further action.
Patne also imposed a fine of Rs 5,000 on D’Silva as no fish was found in his boat.
According to reports, Silveira did not attend the hearing in the Mamlatdar’s office in Malvan on Thursday.
Fishermen in Malvan have welcomed the order of the Malvan mamlatdar and said it would send out a strong signal that illegal activity would not be tolerated along Malvan’s coast.
