MARGAO: Fishing communities along the Zuari river are urgently calling attention to the disruptions they assert are being caused by water sports activities in the region. In a letter addressed to the Tourism Minister, the Secretary (Tourism) and the Director of Tourism, representatives of these communities have expressed their concern over the adverse effects of water sports on their traditional livelihoods.
The letter sent by the All Goa Small Scale Responsible Fisheries Union highlighted the approval of water sports activities by the Department of Tourism, allegedly by bypassing the Department of Fisheries and local panchayat bodies. The union has claimed that this oversight has led to significant disturbances in fishing operations along the Zuari river. They have further claimed that the movement of water sports boats has encroached upon fishing spaces, resulting in the tearing of gillnets and the disturbance of natural habitats, driving away fish from their usual undisturbed environments.
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In response to these challenges, the fishing communities are urgently requesting two actions: the immediate revocation of existing permissions granted to water sports activities along the Zuari River, covering villages from Taleigao coast to Siridao coast, and the refusal to grant any new permissions for water sports in these territories.
The letter emphasises the importance of cooperation from the authorities to ensure the uninterrupted conduct of fishing activities by small-scale fishing communities in the region.
Signed by Shaila D’Mello, President, and Laximan Mangueshkar, Secretary, copies of the letter have been sent to key stakeholders, including the Director of Fisheries, the SP of Coastal Security, the CoP and various Sarpanchas of Village Panchayats in the Tiswadi taluka.
