PANJIM: The Fisheries Department on Thursday has 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.
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 June1, 2017 till July31, 2017 (both days inclusive),” reads the order.
Meanwhile, Fisheries Minister Vinod Palyekar had earlier stated that his department will intensify cracking down on LED fishing and bull trawling as they result in an ecological disaster in the sea.
