SUNDAY, MAY 19, 2024
Team Herald
VASCO: Goenchea Raponkarancho Ekvott(GRE)on Saturday slammed the Fisheries Department for its failure to curb Bull Trawling by Malpe fishing trawlers, LED light fishing and ban on 5 kms since last year in the territorial waters.
The group also demanded strict implementation of law in the ongoing new fishing season as the last season has been the worst since several decades as there has been blatant violation of Goa Marine fisheries Regulation Act 1982.
In a press release, General Secretary Olencio Simoes stated that the Fisheries Department in 2016 and the Central government in 2017 has banned the use of Bull or LED light trawling in the territorial waters and Indian Exclusive Zone (EEZ). But still today more than hundred Karnataka trawlers are operating within the territorial waters of State and continue to use these banned destructive gears without the fear of law or Government of Goa. If this continues then there could be a law and order situation the State and only State government will be responsible for any untoward incident.
He also demanded to increase the fishing ban period to 90 days in the next fishing season and increase the petrol subsidy as drop in fish catch and steep raise in petrol has made it almost impossible to sustain the fishing business.
Further, Simoes appealed the Fisheries Minister Filipe Neri Rodrigues to immediately direct the Fisheries Department for strictly implementation of the law on banned gears, Malpe boats and implement the 5 kms ban. If the violation continues then it is certain that Goa which is second State for export of fish will head towards fish extinction of wild fisheries and soon Goa will join the hands of other countries namely Norway, Denmark, Oman, New Zealand, Australia etc where fisheries had come to halt because of such destructive gears.
