MARGAO
As Fisheries officials cracked a whip against traditional fishermen from Varca on Friday noon for venturing out in the sea with canoes in violation of the fishing ban, traditional fishermen have demanded to know whether Fisheries Minister Nilkant Harlankar will display the same zeal and enthusiasm in cracking a whip against mechanised fishing vessels for fishing within five nautical miles zone when the season commences on August 1.
In fact, Benaulim-based traditional fisherman Pele Fernandes reminded the Fisheries Minister that big fishing boats have been violating the fishing rules with impunity, including violation of the rule that mechanised fishing vessels should not fish within the five nautical miles zone.
Pele posed a host of questions to the government and the Fisheries Minister. One, will the Fisheries Minister seize the big mechanised fishing vessels fishing within the five nautical miles zone. Will the Fisheries Minister ensure that no big size fishing boat uses LED lights and bull trawling for fishing. Will the Fisheries Minister stop fishing boats from Malpe-Karnataka from fishing in Goa’s fishing zone and close to the coast?
He pointed out that the traditional fishermen used to venture out in the sea a week before the new fishing season commences on August 1 with the goodwill of the government, the Fisheries Minister and the department officials. “There may be no rule in place to allow the traditional fishermen to venture out for fishing when the ban is in force till July 31. But, the fishermen used to move out for fishing with country-made motorised canoes with the goodwill of the Fisheries Minister and the government,” he said.
He added: “We don’t feel bad over the decision of the Fisheries Minister to not allow the traditional fishermen to venture out with canoes before August 1. But, we will salute the Fisheries Minister if he ensures that no mechanised fishing vessels fish within a five nautical miles zone and does not resort to fishing with LED lights and bull trawling.”
Another fisherman pointed out that the traditional fishermen venture out in the sea five days before the new season begins on August 1 so that they earn something from the occupation. “When the season starts on August 1 the mechanised fishing vessels venture in the sea, leaving the traditional fishermen high and dry. This is the reason why the traditional fishermen start fishing five days before the official commencement of the season,” he added.
