MARGAO:
Accusing the government and Fisheries Department for failing to protect
the rights of fishermen, Congress leader Olencio Simoes on Saturday demanded to
keep strict vigil on the fishing boats entering Goan waters, and to take action
against the fishing boat owners, who were caught recently, at
Benaulim.
Addressing the
media persons, here, along with Peter Fernandes, Jason Silveira, and
Devsurabhee Yaduvanshi, Olencio lambasted the Fisheries Department,
besides Coastal Police and Coast Guard for failing to keep a vigil on the
illegal activities in Goan waters.
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“Illegalities
in the Fisheries Department have gone to the peak, it is an utter shame that
the local fisherman have to be vigilant and catch the boats from Karnataka,
rather than the Fisheries Department. The Fisheries Department has failed to
act on illegal bull trawling by Malphe boats for the last two years in the
territorial waters of Goa,” Olencio alleged.
He
further said that the Fisheries Department in 2016, and the Central government
in 2017 has banned the
use of bull trawling in the territorial waters and Indian Exclusive Zone
(EEZ), but till today more than hundred Karnataka trawlers are operating within
the territorial water of the State and continue to use this banned
destructive gears without the fear of law and perhaps in complete connivance
with the Government of Goa.
Further, Olencio questioned Chief Minister Dr
Pramod Sawant who is also the Home Minister, whether his department like the Coastal
Police is not aware of the illegal fishing within the territorial waters of
Goa.
He stated it is the duty of the Coastal Police
to keep continuous vigil on our territorial waters as these illegal boats can
also be carrying illegal goods like drugs, weapons etc. which could be a threat
to the State of Goa.
State
Leadership Development Coordinator of All India Unorganised Workers Congress Devsurabhee
Yaduvanshi stated, “Government of Goa is hell bent on destroying the
livelihoods of Goan fishermen. They have played a sick joke by providing a sum
of Rs 5,000 as a one-time COVID settlement to the unorganised sector, and then
they have allowed Malphe boats to fish in our territorial waters, effectively
destroying our fishermen’s chance of earning a decent livelihood. Where is a
Goan fisherman to turn for justice in this scenario?”
She
demanded strict action against the violators, as it has been observed in the
past that lenient action has been taken against such trawlers by the Fisheries
Department, to let them off easily by devaluing their fish stock, thereby
reducing the sum of the fines.
