In an attempt to boost marine conservation efforts, the State government has reportedly announced the highest compensation package in India for fishermen of Goa who cut their nets to free entangled whale sharks as well as all other schedule 1 marine species offering Rs 75,000 per incident.
It needs to be noted that the biggest threat to marine life does not come from fishing net entanglement, but from sea pollution. These marine life fill their stomachs with plastic, and are poisoned with toxic chemicals released from pollutants.
Marine animals mistake plastic for food, leading to internal injuries, malnutrition, and starvation. Heavy metals and other toxic substances from industrial waste and release of raw sewage threatens marine life.
Oil released by large ships contaminates marine habitats, causing long-term damage to the ecosystem. Excess debris in the ocean uses oxygen for degradation resulting in less oxygen in the water.
Very often we read about carcasses of whales, sharks, dolphins, etc. washing ashore on the Goan beaches. These are not dead due to entanglement in the fishermen’s net. We need to stop sea pollution.
