It is very surprising that in a State like Goa where everyone enjoys fish to their heart’s content, those who provide us with fish are left disheartened with the government’s inability to solve their long pending issues.
Cutbona Jetty in Salcete taluka is the prime provider of fish and yet it lacks the necessary infrastructure. The repeated calls for upgradation of its facilities have only been met with promises of it being completed soon. But fishing seasons have come and gone and yet the problems continue to persist.
There are around 400-450 trawlers stationed at Cutbona and boat owners are hoping for a better season this year. “Issues like decline of fish at sea and prices of fish in the market are things we have to take into account, but to suffer at the cost of lack of development is what hurts our business the most” said a boat owner.
The boat owners acknowledge the government’s efforts to address a few issues but the ones that can make a difference to their business have been ‘slow-tracked’. “It is not like we are using antiquated means or our boats are old. We have the most advanced technology; come and see our boats. But there are so many problems, which make it very frustrating for us,” said Cutbona Boat Owners’ Development Union president, Cipriano Cardozo. He also said that they have sent many reminders to the Fisheries Department and are only told about the movement of files, but nothing seems to be moving on the ground. “Look at the mouth of the river for example. During hostile weather conditions and the sandbar, the navigational channel is not very safe and we are forced to anchor at various places from Vasco to Cabo de Rama till the weather returns to normal. This greatly affects the number of trips we make,” added Cardozo.
Boat owners lamented that every year the government spends money to address the sandbar issue, but they wanted a long-term solution like a break-water facility that is followed at other jetties in India and which would allow them to venture into the sea and back at a faster rate. “The government is removing the sand at the mouth of River Sal and it should get completed soon. But we need a permanent solution and have been saying the same for years now,” said Patrick D’Silva, former Cutbona Boat Owners’ Association president.
D’Silva advocated the use of a scientific approach in solving the sand bar issue and felt that if it is corrected, the mouth of the river would open up and make it far easier for boats to navigate. He acknowledged that the government was doing some work, but that there was more to be done.
Listing the other areas where the government needs to step in, D’Silva pointed out that facilities for trawlers like parking, unloading, berthing, storage, repair work as well as welfare facilities are in need of urgent attention. Boat owners also felt local residents of that area have been misguided on certain issues including dredging and these objections often delay a much needed project.
They point out that it is because of the reservations expressed by the locals that they cannot have a fish meal plant, even though land had been identified and the site demarcated.
“We are sympathetic to the concerns raised by the locals, but the government should find us an alternate site closer to the jetty as this will allow us to store the fish. Even the smell from trucks carrying fish and plying on the village roads will be curtailed,” added Cardozo. Boat owners at Cutbona also explain that it is not easy to get labour which is turning out to be a scarce resource. Hostility by locals and recent incidents of trawlers capsizing has been a cause of concern among the migrant labour force. “One of the basic and major requirements is the construction of toilet facilities for the labour force. We have done all the paper work and spoken to the authorities concerned for permissions. This is a decade old problem and there is still no headway” said a boat owner.
Locals have often complained about the lack of hygiene due to the labourers and fear health related problems. “We have managed to provide the labourers with a lot of facilities ourselves and the government has given a subsidy on jackets. However, we have been trying to get toilet and bathing facilities for more than ten years,” Cardozo added.
Boat owners felt that the Fisheries Ministry should intervene whenever there is a conflict with the locals and the boat owners.
Incidentally, one of the issues with the locals is that they are against net mending facilities. D’Silva said this is a requirement and would not take up more than 100 square metres. He also added that this along with other facilities should be properly demarcated by the government. “The field officers should be present here taking stock of the situation and looking at solving ground issues,” he went on to say. Cardozo added that there are also issues with local fishermen and said that he understood their position, but called on the Fisheries Department to try and look at solving these recurring issues as well.
Boat owners point out that this year the radio message service is not available as the network is no longer accessible. “This tracking mechanism via positioning devices helped us know where our boats were, if they were idle or where in the sea in cases of emergency and general navigation. We hope the government sorts this soon,” said Cardozo.
Local MLA, Benjamin Silva after the election of the union committee expressed confidence that the government and Fisheries Department would take up the pending work and that they were supportive of the needs of the jetty. He further acknowledged there is a lot that is needed be done.
Fisheries Minister, Avertano Furtado said that the government was fully aware of the issues affecting Cutbona and has always been working on trying to find a solution to the problem and was in communication with the boat owners about the same.
