TEAM HERALD
MARGAO: Fisheries Director’s series of instructions to Cutbona-based boat owners to allow the fishing vessel ‘Jesus Christ’ to berth at the Cutbona fishing jetty and take part in the auctions and avail other facilities seem to have gone abegging.
Owner of the fishing vessel Gaspar Fernandes told the media at the Cutbona fishing jetty on Saturday that the fishing vessels continues to face hurdles in respect of berthing at the jetty.
“On August 11, my vessel had berthed at the jetty and had even participated in the fish auction. But, today again, I have received a message from the office of the boat owners that I cannot participate in the auction. I fail to understand this discrimination when the fishing jetties belong to the government”, he said.
Moreover, Gaspar pointed out that the fishing vessel was purchased around three years ago from a boat owner, who was operating the vessel from Cutbona jetty. “I have given sufficient time to the government to act. I now plan to call on the Fisheries Minister to intervene and enforce the law. Otherwise, I will be constrained to knock the doors of the court for justice”, he said.
Incidentally, Fisheries Director Dr Sharmila Monteiro has despatched a number of letters to the Cutbona Fisheries Co-operative Society, South Goa Mechanised Boat Owners Society and president of Cutbona Boat Owners Development Union to allow the vessel Jesus Christ to berth at the jetty.
In fact, the Fisheries Director on July 21 had virtually warned the boat owners that the department will not issue any more NOCs to the vessels presently berthing at Cutbona for changing the dimensions and particular of engine or for construction of new vessels against replacement unless her instruction to allow the vessel Jesus Christ to berth at the jetty is followed.
