CUNCOLIM: The tension continues to simmer between boat owners operating at Cutbona as a largely attended joint meeting held on Thursday remained inconclusive on the use of LED lights while new allegations surfaced.
At the outset of the meeting, around 130 boat owners submitted a signature memorandum in favour of the use of LED lights to the association. However, those opposing the use of LED lights countered saying in time they would be able to submit a petition with more signatures.
The joint meeting called by the small and big fishing boat owners in Cutbona ended indecisive as both the parties have agreed to disagree to each other’s stands. Velim MLA Benjamin Silva was present for the meeting and representatives of traditional fishermen were also present at the meeting.
There were other allegations over alleged flouting of norms with regard to modifications to the boats against existing rules for size and horsepower. There were also allegations of boat owners not registering and insuring all boats with the government. It was decided that all these points would be put in the report that would be submitted to the fisheries department which would be asked to conduct a thorough inquiry into the matter.
The Boat owners association which is presently not favouring the big fishing trawlers has decided to write to the Fisheries Department expecting to get solutions on the LED related crisis and other issues. It is to be noted that the big trawler owners have threatened to break away from the Cutbona boat owner association and form their own separate association if the LED issue persists.
“How will the fish lay eggs if lights are used for fishing? Our business and the water life will be ruined for life and we are completely in disagreement of this,” said Boat Owners Association President Savio D’Silva.
While the bigger boat owners who use LED lights have maintained that they use it at deep sea and thus don’t hamper other smaller boat owners or traditional fishermen. There was a complaint that night fishing is banned so that the LED lights should not be allowed.
Furthermore the big boat owners also questioned what authority the association had to stop the auctioning of fish which was a flash point between the two groups earlier this week.
