Team Herald
PANJIM: The Fisheries Department on Thursday notified the 61-day annual fishing ban from June 1 to July 31 to facilitate fish breeding during the season.
The department also issued a strict order banning fishing through mechanised fishing vessels during the ban period. Registered motorised canoes using gill nets have been exempted.
Over 1500 trawlers in the State will drop anchor as the annual 61-day-long fishing ban along the western coast comes into force from June 1. The uniform fishing ban will be implemented in Goa, Maharashtra and Karnataka.
The department’s notification states, “In exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (1) and (2) of Section 4 of the Goa, Daman and Diu Marine Fishing Regulation Act, 1980 (Act No. 3 of 1981), the Government of Goa having regard to the need to conserve fish, hereby prohibits fishing by vessels fitted with mechanical means of propulsion and by means of trawl-net and purse-seine net”.
“Except fishing by registered motorised canoes using gill nets only, and fitted with outboard or inboard motors, of up to 10 HP capacity, as a means of propulsion, along the sea coast of the State of Goa and the territorial waters of the State of Goa, with effect from June 1, 2018 till July 31, 2018 (both days inclusive),” reads the order.
Meanwhile, Fisheries Minister Vinod Palyekar had earlier stated that his department will intensify its crack down on LED fishing and bull trawling as they result in an ecological disaster in the sea.
