PANJIM: National Fishworkers Forum (NFF) General Secretary Olencio Simoes along with nine affiliated fishing organisations submitted two separate memorandums to Fisheries Minister Filipe Neri Rodrigues demanding that immediate action be taken against LED light fishing, bull trawling and cage culture in the State.
They also criticised the rolling back of traditional fishermen subsidies. Agnelo Rodrigues, president of Goenchea Raponkarancho Ekvott (GRE) said that fishermen of Goa are shocked to note that several subsidies for petrol, outboard motors and others subsidies have been drastically reduced specially during the pandemic, which is yet another jolt to the traditional fishermen.
He pointed out that these subsidies were increased following the demands of their late leader Matanhy Saldanha, which were fulfilled by former chief minister late Manohar Parrikar. He also added that that since 2016 they have submitted several written objections highlighting the illegal use of LED light fishing and bull trawling.
However, Agnelo lamented that the Fisheries Department has failed to implement the ban on bull or pair trawling and the use of LED lights equipped with or with generators in the territorial waters till date.
On that note, Olencio said, “The blatant violation of Goan fishing trawlers has gone to an extent that they were found using LED lights fishing in Maharashtra especially in the districts of Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg where several Goan fishing trawlers have been impounded by Fisheries Department of Maharashtra.
