PANAJI: The Tourism Department has imposed a penalty of Rs 50,000 on the organisers of the International Oceanman Open Water Swimming Event for hosting the event at Caranzalem beach on Sunday without prior approval. A tourist warden has also been suspended for dereliction of duty.
The event, which already faces an FIR for multiple offences, was held without permission, prompting the Fisheries Department to seek a report from its block-level officers.
A conflict between ramponkars and water sports organisers had erupted during the event, forcing its cancellation midway. Fishermen protested the unauthorised activity, alleging that the organisers failed to consult them, disrupting their traditional fishing operations. Police had to intervene to defuse the situation.
St Andre MLA Viresh Borkar, who submitted a memorandum to the Fisheries Director with local fishermen today, said the event was held in a protected fish breeding area and slammed the government for allowing such activities. “The entire stretch from Nauxim to Siridao, including Caranzalem, falls under the protected fishing zone. Yet, permissions are being given for water sports in these areas,” he said, demanding that the Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA) notify Caranzalem as a fish breeding site.
Fisheries Director Shamila Monteiro confirmed that the event went ahead without permission. “The organisers should have taken at least an NOC from the department, so local fishermen could have been informed. This communication is vital because when the fishing net is deployed, any obstruction forces fishermen to pull it out prematurely and risk losing their catch,” she said.
Monteiro added that her department has sought a report from block-level officers and will submit it to the government once received, along with a recommendation to formally notify the Caranzalem coast as a fish breeding site under GCZMA.
