the goan I network
MARGAO
After a five-day wet spell, leaving behind a trail of destruction, the sun finally came out on Friday, giving the much-needed respite to the people.
For, the Cutbona-based mechanised boat owners, however, the dry spell may still not ring in good news for the simple reason that the hostile navigational conditions and the sand bar at the river Sal mouth continues to block the movement of vessels from venturing out.
Fisheries Minister Filipe Neri Rodrigues, who is closely monitoring the situation at the river Sal mouth with the sand bar coming in the way of smooth navigational channel, said the government will implement measures at the river mouth as per the advice and guidance of the fishing community. “The fishing community is well aware of the situation at the river Sal mouth. After a delegation of boat owners had called on me with their problems, especially issues relating to the hostile navigation condition at the river mouth, I had dispatched a delegation of Fisheries officials to take stock of the situation and take corrective steps,” Filipe Neri told The Goan.
He said the Fisheries department may consider various options how to tackle the sand bar, but maintained that the department will go by the advice and guidance of the local fishing community. “Let us wait and see how things unfold at the river mouth. All I can say is that the government will go by the wishes of the fishing community,” Filipe Neri added.
The boat owners, however, are keeping their fingers crossed. It’s now nine days since the new fishing season commenced on August 1 and the boats are yet to venture out for fishing because of the cyclonic winds and the sand bar at the river Sal mouth.
While around 50 per cent of the migrant manpower have reported at the Cutbona fishing jetty, the balance workforce is yet to arrive till date. Boat owners say that the migrant workers further delay in arriving at the jetty after they receive reports from their colleagues about the cyclonic weather conditions in the sea.
President of Cutbona Boat Owners Union Savio D’Silva said not a single fishing vessel from Cutbona has ventured out into the sea till date because of the cyclonic weather conditions and the sand bar at the river Sal mouth. “I hope the government is aware of the situation at the river Sal mouth and will take corrective measures to ensure smooth navigation channel for the fishing boats,” Savio added.
Former Cutbona Boat Owners Union President Cypriano Cardozo said not just the inclement weather conditions, but the sand bar at the river Sal mouth has played spoil sport to the new fishing season. “Though Friday was a relatively a sunny day, the rough weather conditions in the sea prevent the fishing boats from venturing out. The sand bar at the river Sal mouth is also a matter of concern,” he added.
Boat owners maintained that while the weather conditions will slowly improve in the coming days, the question over the sand bar at the river Sal mouth may still come to haunt the fishing community operating from the Cutbona and Betul fishing jetties.
