MARGAO
Traditional fishermen and small boat owners laid a virtual siege in the River Sal throughout Wednesday, with the fishermen asserting that their vessels will not move out from the river, nor will they leave Cutbona jetty till the government implements the order banning fishing with LED lights immediately.
Pleas by the Fisheries Minister, Avertano Furtado to lift the siege when he personally descended at Cutbona on Wednesday evening did not find favour with the agitating fishermen who demanded implementation of the ban order.
Vinay Tari told The Goan on late Wednesday that the siege will continue till fisheries officials implements the ban order by removing the LED lights and generators from the fishing vessels. “Members of the traditional fishermen have preferred to spend the night at Cutbona fishing jetty and continue the agitation till the Fisheries Department implements the ban on LED lights. None of the vessels of the traditional fishermen have moved out, and are all anchored in the River Sal,” Tari said.
Fishing vessels of traditional fishermen, which have been anchored in River Sal between Cutbona jetty and mouth of the river has come in the way of the navigational channel. However, there was no untoward incident throughout the day.
Fisheries Minister, Avertano Furtado tried to convince the agitated fishermen to withdraw the protest after he produced the government’s order banning fishing with LED lights. His promise that the government would start implementing the order immediately failed to convince the fishermen who demanded action by the Fisheries department.
Earlier in the day, traditional fishermen Sudhakar Joshi said the fishermen will continue the stir till their demand for a ban on LED lights, bull trawling and high-speed engines is met by the government.
“We have been knocking the doors of the Chief Minister, Fisheries Minster and the Fisheries Director to ban LED lights but in vain. No one listened to us. We are the real fishermen. Those who have installed the LED lights are not the traditional fishermen. This government has brought us on the streets. We will not withdraw till the LED lights are removed from the fishing vessels,” Sudhakar warned.
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Govt officials to visit jetties today
Acting South Goa Collector, Rancon Pereira on Wednesday said that government officials will make their presence felt at fishing jetties in South Goa on Thursday to implement the ban on fishing with LED lights.
Additional Collector Pereira, who is holding additional charge of District Collector following the transfer of Dr Sachin Shinde, said that on Wednesday he has received the order from the government with respect to the ban on LED lights.
“I will issue an order to the deputy collectors in the South Goa district to implement the ban with immediate effect,” Pereira said, adding that officials will make their presence felt at the fishing jetties in South Goa from Thursday.
