Team Herald
MARGAO: While the ban on fishing in Goa was lifted on August 1, till date trawlers are either unable to venture in the sea or have returned empty and Fisheries Minister Filipe Neri Rodrigues said he wad hopeful that the season will pick up after ‘narali poornima’ which was celebrated today.
He admitted that in bygone days, fishing season would start only after the narali poornima was observed where the sea Gods were appeased by worshipping and releasing a coconut in the sea.
Around 300 trawlers that operate from Cutbona fishing jetty in Salcete have not been able to go out in the sea due to a sand bar formation at the mouth of River Sal that does not allow any trawler to venture out. In fact two trawlers ventured yesterday but had to return as they could not cross the bar.
Filipe said the Fisheries Department has already identified the person who would cut the sand bar and dredge the river mouth but regretted that the continuous rains have prevented the work from starting and said once the sand bar is removed fishing will start in full swing.
Cutbona Boat Owners Co-operative Society, President Savio D’Silva said the trawler owners are in deep trouble as they have to pay the staff employed even though they do no work as the trawlers are anchored.
He disclosed that the totally raw person is paid around Rs 9000 per month while the experienced workers are paid even Rs 12,000 per month.
“What is regrettable is that always trawlers from Cutbona would go out in the sea first and others would follow but this year Vasco trawlers have gone to the sea while we are still stuck in the river,” he said.
However, the situation is not so rosy for the trawlers from Vasco either as they have returned empty and are eagerly waiting for the weather to settle down so that they can start their business.
Jose Philip D’Souza, president of Goa Fishing Boat Owners Association said the government should take note of the bad beginning of the fishing season and consider their case.
“There is a strong undercurrent in the sea due to which the nets float and do not go down to catch fish and that is why the vessels are returning empty,” he said hoping that things will improve once the weather settles down.
He also admitted that trawler owners have to pay the labourers they have engaged and disclosed that a trawler owner has to pay the labourer Rs 10,000 per month and added that if there are more workers it would put a bigger burden on the owner.
“I am not exactly demanding something, but the government should consider our plight and offer us some relief,” he said.
