Tourism dept’s floating station proposal faces fishermen’s ire

A floating station used to facilitate quick jet ski launches during beach rescue operations.

MARGAO
The Tourism department’s controversial proposal to install temporary floating stations along the Salcete beach belt of Colva and Cavelossim has run into rough weather.
Associations of traditional fishermen and water sports bodies of Colva village have red-flagged the proposal to install a temporary floating station at Colva. In Cavelossim, reports indicated that the local fishermen are opposed to any temporary floating stations, fearing that it will hamper fishing activities. Local fishermen associations are expected to formally convey their sentiments and express their opposition to the project on Wednesday.
The Traditional Fisherman Association of Colva, led by President Thomas Rodrigues, has pointed out that the floating jetty proposed at Colva beach is totally a step towards disaster and has been initiated without any wisdom. In his letter to the Tourism department, Rodrigues stated that the members of the Traditional Fishermen Association of Colva have already raised strong objections to the project during the visit of Tourism officials to Colva beach in November 2025. “The proposed jetty is going to cause hindrance to the local fishermen and also to the water sports operators,” he said.
Rodrigues also drew the attention of the Tourism officials to its letter dated February 26, 2026, stating that people have objected on several beaches, prompting the department to remove the jetty. He also mentioned that the jetty on stilts at Baina beach is lying idle and not being put to use, resulting in wastage of taxpayers’ money.
Instead of a temporary floating jetty on stilts, Rodrigues has suggested a temporary floating pontoon for the lifeguards manning the beach, asserting that construction of the jetty on stilts with iron columns, or a floating jetty, will spell disaster for the fishing communities.
President of the Water Sports Association and traditional fisherman Domingo Rodrigues also echoed similar sentiments. He said that the proposed temporary floating jetty will come in the way of the smooth fishing activities of the local fishermen. “Traditional fishermen normally cast rampon (traditional fishing gear), measuring 300-400 metres in the sea. With a floating jetty in the sea, the fishing activity will get disturbed and adversely impact the livelihoods of the local fishing communities,” Domingos added.
Cavelossim Sarpanch Dixon Vaz said that he has called a meeting with representatives of the local fishermen association to deliberate on the correspondence received from the Tourism department on the installation of temporary floating stations at various beaches. “We will convey our decision to the Tourism department after discussing the matter in detail,” he said.
The Tourism department had informed the fishermen associations and the local bodies about the appointment of Ms Drishti Lifesaving Pvt Ltd after following codal formalities for “Providing Lifeguarding and Beach Safety services for Various Beaches and Water Bodies in the State of Goa”.
As per tender conditions, the agency will have to install six temporary floating stations in the sea for the safety of tourists/locals at the beaches.
The department maintained that the deployment of the floating stations will aid in providing quick jet ski launches in case of a rescue operation by enabling the lifeguards to reach the victim/drowning person in a short time.
Accordingly, the agency has identified six locations, namely Arambol, Calangute, Miramar, Arrosim, Colva and Cavelossim beaches. However, the temporary floating stations installed at Baga and Calangute have been removed following objections received from fishermen associations, etc.
March 11 is the last date set for the fishermen associations and the local bodies to submit their views on the proposal.