06 Dec 2021  |   06:43am IST

Yes, it’s true, many Khariwado trawler owners are giving up their fishing business

. Accumulated loss together faced by these trawler owners every year is over Rs 7 crores . Many finding it difficult to choose between the devil of financial losses and the deep sea
Yes, it’s true, many Khariwado trawler  owners are giving up their fishing business

NAVIN JHA

VASCO: Believe it or not but a majority of the fishermen community from Khariwado (trawler owners) feel that they won’t ask their next generation to continue with their traditional fishing activity. A hard decision to make, but they have no choice. All this is because they are unable to operate on losses faced every year with many having moved on to start other ventures. There are still others who stare into the sea wondering what the future holds, difficult to choose between the devil of economic losses and the deep sea.

“There were multiple reasons due to which, one by one, our members are quitting fishing each year. Many of our issues revolve around the fishing jetty. Across Goa, the fishing jetties are in good condition but here in Khariwado the situation is to the contrary. Each day our boats get damaged here and we have no crew and labour because of unique hardships faced by us here”, said Khariwado-based fisherman leader Simon Pereira.

“The Khariwado fishing jetty is about 75 metres in length. We have about 180 fishing trawlers owned by members of the Goa fishing Boat Owners Association (GFBOA). Each trawler needs parking space of four to five metres. At a time only about 15 to 18 small trawlers can be parked at the jetty. So, we have to park our trawlers behind each other and from here problem starts,” Pereira added.

Limited trawler parking space at the jetty forces trawlers to brush against each other and due to continuous friction, the trawlers are getting damaged. “Every year our members spend over four to five lakh rupees on each trawler that gets damaged at Goa’s most congested Khariwado jetty. Over Rs 7 crores is the quantum of loss that we suffer every year due to damages caused to our boats. Pereira further added that such damage to trawlers happens only in Khariwado as other jetties across the state are in relatively better condition.

Indeed, lack of proper infrastructure is the biggest challenge faced here. Another major problem that arises due to space constraints is the catch which is perishable. Fish gets delayed in reaching the market as many times our trawlers have to be parked behind other.

The Goa Fishing Boat Owners Association said that  MPT claims right over their fishing jetty so they don’t allow the government to intervene, repair or extend the jetty. Earlier MPT was carrying out repairs annually but now even that has stopped. This year GFBOA association’s funds were used to carry out minor repairs.

"Today it’s better to quit the industry and do something else and this is what I have decided to suggest to my son, not to join our traditional fishing business", said the GBOA president.


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