Paliencar announces Fishing Corporation n Plans afoot for separate fish stalls
the goan I network
PANAJI
Speaking to me
dia persons after conducting a surprise inspection at the Department’s main office in Panjim, Paliencar said he would take up the issue of providing subsidised fish on a priority basis.
“In the manifesto (Goa Forward) we had promised to provide subsidised fish to Goans and we will begin to do so by setting up a Fishing Corporation in the State. On Monday I will discuss the issue with Chief Minister and our leader Vijai Sardesai. Our priority is to give subsidised fish to people,” he said.
It may be recalled that ex-fisheries minister Avertano Furtado had during his term introduced mobile fish vans to distribute kingfish, sardines, mackerels, crabs and prawns according to prevailing wholesale rates.
Though details of the new Fishing Corporation are yet to be finalised, the workings of the Corporation will be along the lines of the Horticulture Corporation. Fish will be procured and sold at a subsidised rate in stalls like those of horticulture.
Paliencar, however, said the fish would not be sold along with vegetables, as there were people in the state that would look down upon the practice. Instead, a separate stall would be created for sale of fish.
As a new step, the minister said new entrepreneurs would be given training and be encouraged to join fishing. For fishing vessels and trawlers that venture into the sea, the vessels would be fitted with tracking systems as a mandatory step to ensure the welfare and safety of fishermen. The enforcement department would also be given more responsibility.
Preference for No Objection Certificates (NOC) for water sports activities would be given to Goans, he said, and trawler permissions would be limited to only 35 for a year working on a first come first serve basis.
Speaking about subsidies issued to Goan fishermen, Paliencar said he would streamline the system to ensure those that deserved the scheme would receive it.
He also announced that the fishing ban would be as usual, between June 1 and July 31. The minister has also scheduled a meeting with traditional fishermen and ramponkars on Monday to discuss the issue of fishing with LED.
All mechanised fishing vessels have adopted color code of White hull, black fenders and blue cabin for fishing trawlers and white hull with black fenders for canoes.
