Team Herald
MARGAO: The All Goa Purse-seine Boat Owners (AGPBOA) while replying to the allegation of Goenchea Ramponnkarancho Ekvott (GRE) has alleged that it is the canoes and ramponnkars that are violating the fishing ban and not the boat owners. They have demanded that the Fisheries Department keep an eye on the violations of mechanised canoes.
The General Secretary of AGPBOA, Seby Cardozo, while criticising the GRE said, “Olencio Simoes is at it again. Publicity-hungry to achieve his hollow political dream not being a fisherman himself, it’s like Olencio is trying to explain to a mother about the pain experienced during childbirth.”
He further alleged that it is the mechanised fibreglass canoes that violate the fishing ban by rampantly going out to sea mainly during the fishing ban (June 1 to July 31). “They also use purse-seining method of fishing and use two outboard motors of 25 horse power each which is much beyond the permissible limit (One 9.9 hp motor) and even use 50-feet fibreglass canoes,” alleged Seby.
Seby said that the trawlers stand firmly docked at the various jetties of Goa at the end of the fishing season (i.e. May 31).
“What “Ramponnkarancho Ekvott” is Olencio talking about? Do ramponnkars use outboard motors for ramponns? Do ramponnkars follow the purse-seining method of fishing with winches, etc? Do ramponnkars use fibreglass canoes? Do ramponnkars use mosquito mesh size monofilament nets? All these illegalities are used by these canoes on whose behalf Olencio is fraudulently giving press statements to gain political mileage,” alleged General Secretary of AGPBOA.
“Olencio and his GRE are mainly responsible for a blatant violation during the ban period and decimation of juvenile fish stocks,” alleged Seby. “Now, we firmly request the Fisheries Minister and Fisheries Director to take note and keep an eye on the violations done by mechanised canoes during the fish breeding ban period, which is in contempt of High Court order for preservation of fish during the fishing ban period. The satellite images if checked during the fishing ban will clearly expose this violation,” said AGPBOA secretary.
