Team Herald
MARGAO: As Goa’s annual fishing ban approaches on June 1, activity at Cutbona jetty reflects the seasonal rhythm of an industry in transition. Most of the 200-odd fishing vessels are making their final trips, with crews hustling to secure one last productive haul before the monsoon-enforced hiatus. Workers load ice and supplies onto departing trawlers while others dismantle nets from boats that have already concluded operations.
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This season proved challenging for many operators. “The catch was inconsistent,” shared one boat owner. “We struggled early on with poor mackerel yields, though things improved somewhat later in the season,” he said.
The migrant workforce—primarily from Odisha and Jharkhand—now prepares to return home, some via trains while others board buses arranged by vessel owners.
Last year’s cholera outbreak at the jetty had initially dampened business activity. The August-September health crisis, which claimed several lives, finally spurred action on long-delayed sanitation projects. The 50-seater toilet block, first proposed 15 years ago, is nearing completion after the government fast-tracked construction. Sulabh International officials confirm the facility should be operational before the monsoon, offering much-needed relief for the jetty’s 4,500 migrant workers.
Separately, fishermen continue grappling with persistent navigation issues at the mouth of River Sal. The proposed training wall at Mobor—designed to address dangerous sandbar accumulation—remains stalled pending environmental clearances. “We’re awaiting final approvals after SEAC requested additional studies,” explained Fisheries Minister Nilkanth Halarnkar, noting the government has engaged CSIR-NIO for further research. Local trawler owners express frustration at the delays, having hoped the project would be completed before this monsoon season.
As the fishing community prepares for its annual break, the contrasting progress on different fronts—completed sanitation projects versus stalled navigation solutions—highlights the uneven pace of infrastructure development in Goa’s crucial fishing industry.
“It would be better if the Fisheries Department utilises the time during the fishing ban period to conduct a general review, not just about the jetty but the overall fishing industry, so that we can start the next season on the front foot,” said a boat owner in conclusion.
