Ramponkars object to mechanised fishing within 50 mts off coast
HERALD REPORTER
PANJIM, AUG 18
The Goa’s traditional fishing community has taken strong objection to the mechanised fishing within 50 metres off the coast.
The Goenchea Ramponkarancho Ekvott (GRE), an association of traditional fishermen, has stated that the trawling activity near the coast has marginalised their livelihood.
GRE says that the mechanised trawlers strictly be prohibited from fishing within five kilometers of the shore.
Traditional fishermen, who fish with small canoes, say that many a time mechanised boats destroy their nets, which are laid near the shore.
In a letter to state Fisheries Minister Joaquim Alemao, GRE has said that they are always at receiving end while favours are doled out to the non-traditional fishermen.
“As you are aware, there is depletion in the marine resources and during the current season, the traditional fishermen got very little catch,” GRE President Agnelo Fernandes and General secretary Matanhy Saldanha said in the letter. They have alleged that there is a blatant violation of the Goa Marine Fisheries Regulation Act 1981, which prohibits mechanised vessels from fishing within five kms of the coast.
“These vessels are found even as close as 50 mts from the coast,” GRE said adding the trawlers even threaten the traditional fishermen’s canoes with capsizing.
The traditional fishermen have said that State government’s largesse is mostly for the mechanised sector while the traditional ones are grossly neglected.
To salvage from the crisis, GRE has demanded that the subsidy offered to traditional fishermen community on kerosene purchase be doubled.
Saldanha said that the demand was made three months back but the State has not bothered to respond.
