Team Herald
PANJIM: Around 1500 mechanised fishing vessels will stay off the high seas for a period of 61 days, with the State government imposing the annual fishing ban from June 1 onwards.
Ahead of the monsoon, Fisheries Department has notified the annual fishing ban from June 1 to July 31 to facilitate fish breeding during the season.
The department also issued a strict order banning fishing through mechanised fishing vessels during the ban period. Registered motorised canoes using gill nets have been exempted. The uniform fishing ban will be implemented in Goa, Maharashtra and Karnataka.
The department’s notification states, “In exercise of the powers conferred by Subsections (1) and (2) of Section 4 of the Goa, Daman and Diu Marine Fishing Regulation Act, 1980 (Act No. 3 of 1981), the Government of Goa, having regard to the need to conserve fish, hereby prohibits fishing by fishing vessels fitted with mechanical means of propulsion and by means of trawl-net and purse-seine net.”
“Except fishing by registered motorised canoes using gill nets only, and fitted with outboard or inboard motors, of up to 10 HP capacity, as a means of propulsion, along the sea coast of the State of Goa and the territorial waters of the State of Goa, with effect from June 1, 2020 till July 31, 2020 (both days inclusive),” the order states.
Fishing activities in the State were banned from March 25 to mid April in view of the nationwide lockdown imposed due to the novel coronavirus pandemic. The Central government later exempted the traditional activity from the prohibition.
