MARGAO
Exactly a fortnight into the new fishing season, fishing activity at Cutbona fishing jetty, the State’s largest fishing hub, is yet to gather momentum, with a sizeable number of fishing vessels still remaining anchored in the River Sal.
Stakeholders in the fishing sector have attributed the delayed start to a combination of factors, primarily the late arrival of migrant labourers and unfavourable weather conditions. While fishing boat owners are hoping that the remaining migrant workers will arrive in the coming days and that sea conditions will improve, apprehensions remain over the possibility of further cyclonic weather affecting fishing operations.
A visit to the Cutbona fishing jetty revealed that a considerable portion of the fishing fleet is yet to venture into the sea. Many vessels remain anchored in the River Sal, either awaiting the arrival of their migrant crew or holding back because of concerns over weather conditions.
However, there has been some improvement compared to the opening days of the season. Around 40 per cent of the fishing vessels have now reportedly begun operations in earnest, although the returns so far have been far from encouraging.
The fish catch has remained poor, with only a few vessels reporting landings of small-sized mackerel. Sources said that a couple of fishing vessels which ventured out during the first two to three days of the season were forced to seek shelter at Karwar port after encountering cyclonic winds at sea.
With weather conditions having subsided in recent days, boat owners are now hopeful that fishing activity will gradually return to normal. At the same time, they remain cautious, particularly in view of the cyclonic systems that could still affect the coast during the early part of the season.
Secretary of the Cutbona Boat Owners Federation Patrick D’Silva said that around 60 to 70 purse seine vessels, besides other fishing vessels, had ventured into the sea so far.
“The delayed start to the new fishing season is primarily due to the late arrival of migrant workers. More than 50 per cent of the migrant workers have reported to the jetty. We are now hoping that the remaining workers will arrive in the next few days,” D’Silva said.
He said the delay in the arrival of migrant workers is linked to the agricultural cycle in their native states. A large section of the workforce employed by Goa’s fishing industry comes from Odisha and Jharkhand. “Normally, the workers leave their native states after completing their agricultural operations. However, with the rains arriving late this year, sowing operations were also delayed, resulting in the workers arriving later than usual,” he said.
The shortage of manpower could become more pronounced in the coming days, D’Silva cautioned, pointing out that the fishing fleet has been expanding in neighbouring Karnataka and Maharashtra as well. “The addition of new fishing boats to the existing fleet, especially in Karnataka and Maharashtra, may further result in a manpower constraint in the coming days,” he said.
While boat owners at Cutbona are banking on the arrival of the remaining workforce to get more vessels operational, another concern is emerging over the movement of migrant fishing labour to neighbouring fishing harbours in Karnataka.
Some stakeholders fear that workers may choose to report to Malpe and other fishing harbours in Karnataka, where fishing boat owners are understood to engage crew members on a percentage-based payment system. It is feared that such an arrangement could make it more difficult for Goan boat owners to attract and retain migrant crew.
Cutbona boat owners push for training wall before next season
Fishing vessels waiting for the improvement at the River Sal mouth to venture out for fishing in the Arabian Sea.
MARGAO: Will the government complete the process of obtaining the Environmental Clearance (EC) before setting the tendering process in motion for the long-delayed training wall project at the mouth of the River Sal? This is the question doing the rounds at the Cutbona fishing jetty, with boat owners questioning the Fisheries Department’s delay in obtaining the EC, as mandated by the National Green Tribunal, before commencing work on the training wall.
