MARGAO
The Fisheries Department’s move to initiate cancellation proceedings against 100 fishing vessels for failing to register under the Merchant Shipping Act, 1958, has triggered concern and opposition from stakeholders, who have questioned the procedure adopted by the department and demanded additional time for vessel owners to comply with the registration requirements and to file their objections and representations.
The controversy follows a public notice issued by the Fisheries Department last week listing 100 fishing vessels that have yet to be registered under the Merchant Shipping Act despite repeated directives from the government over the past decade. The department has proposed cancelling the registrations of these vessels and has further stated that no permissions for construction, replacement, transfer, or fresh registration under the same registration numbers would be considered in future.
The notice also called upon vessel owners to submit objections, claims, or representations within seven days of its publication.
However, Fisheries Director Dr Shamila Monteiro clarified that the department has merely initiated a process aimed at ensuring compliance with the Merchant Shipping Act and has not summarily cancelled any registrations.
Speaking to The Goan, Dr Monteiro said that the exercise was part of a long-pending effort to bring all fishing vessels under the purview of the Merchant Shipping Act. She pointed out that more than 900 fishing vessels have already completed the registration process since the government first decided, over a decade ago, to make such registration mandatory.
“The department has only set in motion the process to regularise the remaining vessels. Owners have been given an opportunity to respond before any final decision is taken,” she said.
The move has nevertheless drawn sharp criticism from sections of the fishing community.
Chairman of the Cutbona Fisheries Cooperative Society and Congress leader Savio D’Silva strongly objected to what he described as an inadequate and unfair process.
“How can the Fisheries Department proceed with cancelling the registration of 100 fishing vessels without giving sufficient time to the owners to act and file their objections or representations?” D’Silva questioned.
He argued that several vessels on the list may belong to owners who passed away years ago, with their legal heirs possibly unaware of the recent notice. “In many cases, the original owners may no longer be alive. Their heirs could be interested in continuing the business but may not even know about the seven-day deadline. Some family members may be working abroad and would have had no opportunity to respond within such a short period,” he said.
According to sources, a number of affected vessel owners have already approached the Fisheries Department with objections, seeking a review of the proposed action.
In one such case, a claimant stated that neither his late father nor any family member had been served with a notice regarding the registration requirements under the Merchant Shipping Act. The objector alleged that the department had failed to follow the principles of natural justice before proposing adverse action against the vessel’s registration.
In his representation, he maintained that the authorities were obligated to provide a reasonable opportunity to be heard before initiating cancellation proceedings.
Requesting that his submission be treated as a formal objection, the claimant urged the department to keep the cancellation process in abeyance until his representation was fully examined.
He further sought a copy of the notice and details of the grounds on which the cancellation had been proposed, while requesting a personal hearing to present his case and complete any pending formalities required by the department.
“Restore or retain the registration of my vessel pending disposal of this objection,” he stated in his representation.
With affected vessel owners beginning to voice their concerns, stakeholders are now calling upon the Fisheries Department to extend the deadline, undertake wider outreach, and provide adequate opportunity for compliance before proceeding with any cancellation of registrations.
Registration drive meant to ensure compliance, not cancel licences: Dept
MARGAO: Director of Fisheries Dr Shamila Monteiro said the Fisheries Department had initiated the process of registration of fishing vessels under the Merchant Shipping Act, 1958 in the year 2009 and commenced issuance of Vessel Registration Certificates under the said Act in the year 2013.
Saying the matter has been pending for a long time now, Monteiro said around 900-odd fishing vessels stand registered with the department under the Merchant Shipping Act, 1958. “The department had issued the public notice with the names of the owners of the fishing vessels with the sole objective to get the owners register their vessels. The process, which was started long back, is sought to be taken to its logical conclusion,” she said.
Monteiro said the department has no objection if the parties seek further time to raise their objections to submit their representation. “As per the public notice, the department has given seven-day time for the owners to submit their objections and representations. The department will consider objections and representations even if they come after the deadline. We are not in a hurry to cancel the licences of the vessels,” she added.
