Morjim : A territorial dispute has erupted between traditional fishermen from Morjim and Siolim over the extraction of ‘Xinanio’ (green mussels), a highly sought-after local delicacy.
On Sunday, tensions escalated when fishermen from Siolim, who had arrived at Morjim’s shores with boats to harvest Xinanio, were confronted and stopped by local fishermen.
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The traditional fishermen of Morjim insisted that harvesting Xinanio should only be done through traditional diving methods in the creek, as opposed to using boats.
“If you want to catch Xinanio, you must dive in the traditional way. We will not allow boats to extract them,” they asserted.
Currently, Xinanio is found in abundance along the banks of the Chapora Creek in Morjim;
Fishermen from the area, who have long relied on diving for their livelihood, expressed concern over the sudden influx of fishermen from Siolim over the past four days.
According to Morjim’s fishermen, the use of boats and diving in groups is not only disrupting the ecosystem but also endangering the breeding grounds of Xinanio.
They allege that the Siolim fishermen, in their attempt to harvest Xinanio, are inadvertently dislodging large stones from the creek bed, which serve as crucial breeding sites. Additionally, the presence of boats near diving zones raises safety concerns, as local divers fear potential accidents when surfacing.
