Team Herald
MAPUSA/VASCO: The Fisheries Department on Wednesday closed the gates of Malim Jetty in Betim, as well as the Kharewada Jetty in Vasco, in a bid to curb illegalities and pressurise fish traders to register with the Department. A notice was also issued to the operators earlier, requesting them to register with the department by submitting a form, and paying the required registration fees and security deposit, but the directive was ignored by the traders using these jetties.
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Sources from the Department said that notices were also published in the newspapers, inviting applications for fish traders to register for the season from August 1 2022 to May 31, 2023, and fishing associations were asked to provide a list of the owners of fishing vessels who desire to transport their fish from the jetty without selling to the traders, but the Department failed to receive any response, which led to the closure of the jetties.
Tension prevailed at Kharewada Jetty, when several vehicles loaded with fish inside the jetty were not allowed to leave, and vehicles entering to load fish were not allowed to enter.
After the intervention of Goa Fishing Boat Owners Association president Jose Philip D’Souza, the trucks were later allowed to pass. “The fisheries department must first give us a proper jetty and facilities before they can ask us for registration again. They cannot suddenly block our access. The government has failed to provide us with any benefits and is only indulging in harassment,” said D’Souza.
When contacted, Fisheries Minister Nilkant Halarnkar said, “A month ago, the traders were
asked to register with the department, but failed
to do so. Now a meeting with the traders has been called on Tuesday, to discuss the matter.”
