MARGAO: Overkill of fish, illegal entry of outside trawlers from neighbouring states into Goan territorial waters, climate change and deteriorating water conditions have resulted in a sort of fish famine, lamented trawler owners and traditional fishermen from South Goa.
They have complained about how they turned from their expeditions empty-handed, or with meager hauls, prompting fears of a crisis within the fishing industry.
“This is surprising. It was not like this in the past. We would come back with net loads of fish and now we are returning with nothing. We have to cover our operations cost too. This could drive the price of locally consumed fish in the market to sky rocket,” said a fisherman from Salcete.
Attributing the decline to multiple factors, other fishermen have pointed fingers at climate change, deteriorating water conditions leading to an increase in jellyfish presence, and the illegal entry of outside trawlers from neighbouring states into Goan territorial waters, which they say are responsible for scooping up the fish from the sea.
Emphasising the urgent need for government intervention to address the situation, they argue that without immediate action, the livelihoods of thousands dependent on fishing in the region is at stake. One of their main demands was to stop the intrusion of outside trawlers and ensure that the coastal police have adequate infrastructure to deal with these situations.
Additionally, there is a plea for measures to mitigate the impact of climate change on marine ecosystems, which are crucial for sustaining fish populations.
There have also been calls to improve the infrastructure and facilities available to the fishermen in the State such as addressing concerns at Cutbona jetty or providing cold storage units at various strategic locations across the South district.