SATURDAY, APRIL 27, 2024
Team Herald
VASCO: Goenchea Raponkarancho Ekvott (GRE) has demanded ban on commercial fishing, but allow only traditional fishing during the lockdown.
In a press note issued here, GRE General Secretary Olencio Simoes said that Home Ministry has issued circular lifting ban on fishing during the lockdown period. But since Goa and India is at stage-2 now, and only stern precautions can halt the stage-3 (community transmission) of COVID-19, it was decided by all traditional associations of Goa that fishermen going to sea/river would be highly dangerous as the virus can spread to others easily.
He further said that majority of the fishworkers are migrants, as a result there is a high possibility of community transmission of the virus in Goa. “Hence, we had demanded that only traditional fishing should be allowed and all commercial fishing should be banned as this requires more crew members and most of their fish catch is exported to other States or countries,” he said.
Simoes stated that mere lifting of the fishing ban without any proper guidelines to the fisheries sector would be detrimental to Goa and there could be surge in COVID-19 cases in the State.
“The fisheries department has issued circular today asking fishing vessels or fishermen to follow fourteen conditions but Goenchea Raponkarancho Ekvott wonders as to who will monitor these conditions. Since March 24, the State banned fishing which is being blatantly violated in totality. Therefore, the lifting of ban only favours a few like the purse seine owners and bull trawlers,” he said.
Meanwhile, GRE President Agnelo Rodrigues has stated that the fisheries department should instruct the health department to build awareness campaigns and provide the fishermen with safety gears like masks, gloves, sanitizers to the entire fishing crew and sanitize the landing areas, jetties and fish markets.
He also warned the government and has asked the fisheries department to keep strict vigil on trawlers.
