We have two basic principles with regard to this problem. One, is that nature is bountiful and gives without holding back any of its gifts be it fish, fruits or flowers. Even if we neglect nature it continues to selflessly share with others what it has with it. The second principle that we need to recognise is that man essentially is a greedy animal and tries to corner resources for his own benefit be it wealth, fish, fruits or flowers. Thus in our present context if we have to find a solution for the availability of fish we have to look at the parameters as we know that are affecting it since the sea being part of ‘nature bountiful’ there is no dearth of fish there.
We only have to know how to get it out. One of the solutions to the present problem related to fishing could be to have the trawlers fitted with LED lights and purse seining nets go further out to sea maybe in the zone beyond 50 km considering they are better equipped. The other trawlers can operate in the zone upto 50 km and our traditional ramponkars can continue fishing from the beaches. The net size for fish should be strictly enforced so that small fish are not unnecessarily caught and they are allowed to grow to full maturity.
By enlarging the fishing zones as appropriate to the resources at the command of the fishing community, we are bound to get more catch and maybe even add to the variety of fish by this method. Considering that the fishing community avails of a large amount of subsidy from purchase of nets to subsidised diesel for their trawlers from the government, they should hand over 40% of their catch back to the government. This fish can be sold through the scheme of mobile fish vans that the government has recently started or it can even open shops across Goa where this fish can be sold at nominal rates to the public.
The problem here is not that of having no solution but the lack of political will and that of understanding within the fishing community that if they take subsidies they should give back something to their consumers and not just look at only their own profits.
