navin@herald-goa.com
VASCO: Around 60 families from Vasco are considering giving up their traditional fishing occupations fearing a lack of business. They have claimed that the fishing industry in Goa is one of the few industries which is totally Goan-oriented, but is on the brink of disaster due to unnatural fishing techniques used by fishermen from neighbouring states.
The fishermen also claimed that there is already less catch for them at sea and if the Fisheries Department does not ban the usage of LED lights and other unnatural fishing methods, then traditional fishermen in Goa, who are engaged in fishing activities for many generations, would automatically go out of business.
“The fishing industry in Goa is on the brink of disaster because of few greedy people. We are traditional fishermen and we want to continue this traditional occupation in a natural way. However, few people in Goa are trying to bring in unnatural methods, including bull trawling or using LED lights. These fishing techniques cause a great disaster to the ecology and environment. We have examples of advanced countries, like in Europe, where trawlers have stopped operations down due to lack of business. I request the government to ban LED lights on trawlers, otherwise we all too will have to leave this business,” said Simon Pereira, a fisherman from Vasco.
He added, “Already there is no fish for the trawlers. Everybody in this industry is facing a tough time and it is high time that we understand that the way Karnataka trawlers are carrying out unnatural way of fishing, we should not do the same as it is going to damage our future.”
Another fisherman from Vasco, Ronny D’Souza stated, “For the last few years, we have been requesting the government to keep a check on high-speed engine trawlers from neighbouring states that come to Goa and do bull trawling. This is going on despite our strong objections. The only reply we get from the Fisheries Department is that such activities have been going on beyond 12 nautical miles, which is beyond their jurisdiction. Now a new concept of using LED lights has been introduced, which is an unnatural way of fishing. In the years to come, our poor fishermen will be forced to give up this occupation.”
He added, “I urge the government to think of sustainability and to take a strong decision on this matter. At present, 60 families are intending to give up fishing and have also started looking out for alternate occupations.”
When contacted about the fishermen’s grievances, Fisheries Minister Avertano Furtado stated, “I am aware of the ill effects of bull trawling and LED lights. I have already decided to ban LED lights for trawlers in Goa and will not allow the same in our waters. The only issue left is unnatural way of fishing beyond territorial waters. Fishermen from other states are carrying out such unnatural fishing. We need to approach the central government to stop the same. I will soon meet Union Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar and will seek his intervention to take this issue before the union fisheries minister to stop unnatural fishing activities even beyond Goa’s water.”
