MARGAO
High Court directions to the Fisheries Department to crack whip on fishing with LED lights and bull trawling has rung in good news for the traditional fishermen.
The fishermen, however, made a fervent plea to the Fisheries Director to implement the High Court directives in both letter and spirit. They felt the High Court should rope in the Coast Guard for strict enforcement of the directions by conducting random raids on the fishing boats in the sea.
Coming as it does on the eve of the new fishing season, beginning from August 1, traditional fishermen said the High Court directions offer a ray of hope to preserve the marine resources, support sustainable fishing and put an end to overexploitation.
Traditional fisherman and leader of Goenchea Ramponkarancho Ekvott, Agnelo Rodrigues said the High Court directions against use of LED and bull trawling offer hope to preserve the marine resources for sustainable exploitation. “I have been involved in fishing activity over the years. I can say that there would be a fish famine within the next five years if fishing with LED lights and bull trawling is not banned immediately,” Agnelo said.
He added: “When unscrupulous people use LED lights for fishing and adopt bull trawling methods to catch fish, marine life is destroyed, breaking the cycle. We have been demanding a ban on these destructive fishing methods over the years. We are happy that the High Court has issued the directions to stop these methods of fishing.”
Agnelo, however, pointed out the High Court directions will remain only on paper if there is no will on the part of the authorities, to crack a whip and implement the directives in both letter and spirit. “Given our bitter past experiences, it would have been better if the High Court had to issue the directions to the Coast Guard for strict and effective implementation of the directions,” he added.
A group of fishermen from Benaulim have also welcomed the High Court directions. “We are not against the boat owners. What we have been demanding over the years is a complete ban on fishing by LED lights and bull trawling. We only hope the High Court directions are implemented in both letter and spirit,” the fisherman said.
