PANJIM: The traditional fishermen on Monday opposed the submission made by the Directorate of Fisheries before the High Court of Bombay at Goa that trawlers be allowed to have 150 KVA capacity generators fearing that it will encourage destructive fishing methods, such as LED lights, bull trawling, and contribute to the depletion of marine resources.
The Court was hearing a writ petition filed by Joaquim Reginaldo Mendes and 10 others opposing the use of LED lights for fishing.
After the hearing, Goenchea Ramponkarancho Ekvott (GRE) general secretary Olencio Simoes said that the government lawyer was pressing for the generator of 150 KVA. But the petitioners were completely opposed to any generator being used in the trawler. He said a 150 KVA generator was not required to power devices except the high voltage LED bulbs. If this is allowed the fish catch will be completely depleted and traditional fishermen will have to commit suicide, like farmers.