the goan I network
VASCO
There has been a rift within the fishing community, after some fishermen who own smaller trawlers have alleged harassment over fishing zones.
Aggrieved small boat owners on Thursday met Goa Fishing Boat Owners Association (GFBOA) President Jose Philip D’Souza urging him to resolve their issues on priority as the boats had been anchored for the last few days with no where to go for fishing.
Small boat owners complained they were not allowed to venture in the deep sea and were forced to fish in creeks. But everytime they went to the creeks, some traditional fishermen or activists complained against them to the Marine police or fisheries department terming them as illegal and would drive them away.
“There has been a complaint against small boat owners by some non-fishing body called ‘Bharat Mukti Morcha (BMM)’ stating we were into illegal business and conducting illegal fishing activity,” said an angry boat owner, Seby D’Souza.
“I want to ask the fisheries department who this body is and what right it has to complain against us fishermen who are in traditional business for several years.”
“These organizations are creating fights among fishing boat owners. We have to fish only in creeks as we cannot go out in deep sea. At a joint meeting called by authorities recently to resolve the issue, these complainants were not present and this shows that they only want fishermen to fight among themselves,” he added.
Another boat owner, M Karim, said while they were fishing in creeks, several traditional fishermen, fishing bodies and activists had complained to the Marine Police and fisheries department not to allow them to fish in the area.
GFBOA President Jose Philip D’Souza has assured to resolve the issue and sort out differences among the fishing community. “There should be no disturbance among us fishermen and BMM is only creating a rift. The BMM was not even present at a recent meeting to resolve the issue. The government must intervene and not allow such bodies to interfere in the fishing community,” he said.
