MARGAO: Demanding a ban on the use of LED lights, the Goenchea Ramponkarancho Ekvott (GRE) and other ramponkar associations have threatened to hold a chain hunger strike in protest if the fisheries department fails to intervene.
“We request the fisheries Director Dr Sharmila Monteiro and Minister Avertano Furtado to intervene in the matter and immediately ban the use of LED lights and preserve the marine ecology for the sustenance of the fishing communities,” said Joint General Secretary Olencio Simoes of GRE and National Fish worker’s Forum Secretary.
“Failing which Goenchea Ramponkarancho Ekvott, Old Cross Canoe Association Owners Co-operative Society Ltd., Baina Ramponkar & Fishing Canoe Owners Society, Desterro Fishermen Association, Akhil Goa Kshatriya Pajui Samaj-Canacona, Vailankani Saibin Fishermen Association-Nerul, Baga Sant Khuris Fishermen Association — Calangute, Shri Shanta Durga Fishermen Association – Cacra, Laxmi Naryan Fishermen Association – Arambol, will go on chain hunger strikes and warn to take law into their hands if the Fisheries department doesn’t immediately impound the LED lights,” added Olencio.
GRE President Agnelo Rodrigues slammed fishing trawlers for using LED lights thus exploiting the natural marine wealth.
“These LED lights are used within the territorial waters, that is, within 12 nautical miles and not beyond 12 nautical miles which in itself is violation of Goa Marine Fishing Regulation Act as no fishing boat is registered to operate beyond 12 nautical miles in Goa,” said Agnelo.
He further said that the traditional fishermen of Goa strongly oppose the use of LED lights in the territorial waters of Goa as use of such lights is totally destructive.
“Using LED lights for fishing is totally destructive to the marine ecology as these lights are mostly used near rocky areas where fishing is not possible. Due to flashing of lights around that area the mother fish gets attracted towards the light and if we don’t allow fish to breed then within 3 to 4 months there will be total fish famine in the state of Goa,” said Agnelo.
He added that LED lights also attract fish from the shallow waters which are mostly juvenile in nature thus totally destroying the spawning grounds.
Olencio said that the boat owners are using all sorts of destructive gears of fishing like China engine (high horse power engine), bull trawling, and bottom trawling, above 60-feet vessel size, and now LED lights. “Do fish belong only to the boat owners? The boat owners fish within 5 km of shore line and now by using LED lights they are totally destroying the marine ecology and will also deprive the traditional fishermen from the fish catch. The time is not too far when several species of fish will be totally extinct if such methods of fishing continues,” added Olencio.
Olencio further stated that several species of diurnal and nocturnal fish habitat will be destroyed as the diurnal fishes (those fishes that are active during the day) are adapted to avoiding diurnal predators, but at night, they hide themselves away and tend to sleep deeply, even having evolved defences to prevent nocturnal (those that are most active during the night) predators from detecting their scent.
“As such the use of LED lights will totally destroy ecology and the fish will get totally extinct as the LED lights will completely destroy their nursing grounds of several 100 species of fish,” said Olencio
“Further the ignorant boat owners, who are using foreign technology, do not realise that the boat owners in foreign countries like France have to fish for a limited tonnage as per season, whereas in India there is no limit for fish catch as such all these modern technologies are used judiciously and in accordance with the marine ecology,” reads the GRE press note.
