TEAM HERALD
PANJIM: For the first time the Fisheries Department will maintain records of all sea going mechanised fishing boats and their crew strength.
The government recently approved 42 vacancies including posts of fisheries officials and surveyors who will be physically present at four fish landing points to keep records of incoming and outgoing trawlers and their crew besides performing other duties assigned to them.
“The (fisheries) officers will monitor the activities on the jetties. It will also be the duty of trawler/boat owners to inform the officers about departure and arrival, crew members on-board with their identification and other details,” Director Shamila Monteiro told Herald.
A ‘pass’ will be given to each trawler captain before venturing into the sea and this has to be handed back to the officer concerned on the vessel’s return. Temporary identity cards in the possession of each fisherman and other crew members will also be verified during this process.
“The owners also have a duty to inform the officers whether all their crew members have returned…We have to ensure that everyone returns safe. In case, some face any problem mid-sea or elsewhere, they will be identified through the records available and help will be offered,” Monteiro said responding to a question.
The deployment at Chapora, Malim, Cutbona and Vasco jetties will not only help the State from the point of view of coastal security but also during unforeseen bad weather, rough sea or cyclonic storms. “We would carry out this exercise only during Sagar Kavach security drill. Once the vacancies are filled, this will be a continuous process,” she said.
In November 2009, a total of 65 fishermen were killed in Cyclone Phyan and several vessels, fishing off Ratnagiri coast were destroyed.
Around 3000-odd mechanized vessels, motorized canoes and non-motorised canoes are registered with the fisheries department while 13-15,000 crew members including fishermen were issued temporary I-cards last year.
In 2011, the government had notified Chapora, Betim, Malim, Cortalim, Khariwada, Cutbona, Betul and Talpona fish landing centres in Goa for mechanized fishing vessels in the wake of intelligence alerts on the possibility of terror outfits infiltrating through the coast.
We have to ensure that everyone who goes out for fishing returns safe. In case, some face problems mid-sea or elsewhere, they will be identified through the records available and help will be offered, said Fisheries Director Shamila Monteiro
