Team Herald
PANJIM: Traditional fishermen, under the banner of Goenchea Ramponnkarancho Ekvott (GRE), have threatened the government to take to the streets if the ban on LED lights backed fishing is not implemented within a week.
Fishermen from various associations in the State, under the banner of GRE, met the Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant and Deputy Chief Minister Vijai Sardesai and demanded that the ban on LED lights backed fishing be implemented. They were accompanied by Speaker Michael Lobo.
GRE General Secretary Olencio Simoes said “LED light backed fishing was banned in 2016 and thereafter it was banned across the country in 2017. Already we are facing shortage of fish catch and the traditional fishermen do not get fish. If the ban is not implemented within this one week then we will take to the streets.”
Stating that Fisheries Department was pulling its feet back from implementing the ban, he said “The Fisheries Department is giving excuses that they do have neither the powers nor the manpower to implement the ban. If that is the case why does the State need a department?”
He further said that while the traditional fishermen will get less catch, they will still get the money as they will sell it for higher prices, but the problem will be for Goans who will get fish at a higher cost. “The trawlers use 50 KV generators and if they want to implement the ban, they can go to the jetty and seize the generators and the lights”, he added.
Pandari Kerkar, member of the Cutbona jetty, said “The officials turn a blind eye to the generators and the lights being carried from Cutbona jetty. If they are serious they will seize these generators and lights and implement the ban.”
Lobo alleged corruption to be the cause of the backtracking by the Fisheries Department to implement the ban. He said “There is definitely corruption involved in this issue. When there is a notification to ban LED light and bull trawling and its mot implemented, that means the Fisheries Department and the marine police are working hand-in-glove with the trawler owners. When there is order of the government to stop this, it has not happened till date.”
Stating that there is a scientific reason for LED backed fishing to be banned across the world, he said “If the ban is not implemented then fish will get extinct. We have a new Chief Minister, he and Deputy Chief Minister Vijai Sardesai both have assured that the ban will be implemented within a week’s time.”
Responding to the allegations of corruption, Sardesai said “Government is committed to implementing the ban on LED fishing and bull trawling. The Chief Minister has given an assurance that implementation will be done and strict implementation will happen through coordination between coastal police and the Fisheries Department. There is something lacking and there has to be some intervention. To save our marine wealth for posterity and not o reach a fish famine, Government needs to take measures.”
