Team Herald
PANJIM: The fishermen from Nerul and other parts of Goa on Tuesday marched to the Panjim police station after fishermen from Malpe, Karnataka, filed a complaint against fishermen from Nerul, despite fishing in Goan territorial waters.
In a daring heist, a Malpe trawler intruded into Goan waters for fishing at Nerul, in Bardez taluka and destroyed the net of a Goan fisherman. The loss was estimated to be around Rs 1.5 lakh.
But when Nerul fishermen boarded the trawler and accosted the Malpe fishermen, the latter filed a complaint with the Panjim police, who summoned the fishermen from Nerul.
All fishermen from across the State rushed to the Panjim police station to protest the police's action of summoning fishermen from Nerul.
Goenchea Ramponkarancho Ekvott (GRE) general secretary Olencio Simoes said, "Despite repeated complaints to the Fisheries department and the Coastal Security Police, no action has been taken against Malpe trawlers fishing illegally in Goan waters and destroying the fishing nets of traditional fishermen."
He said that in stead, counter complaints have been filed against the traditional fishermen. He 'warned' that "if such situation continued, then it would destroy the livelihood of traditional fishermen and the desperate fishermen could resort to drastic steps".
Later as a sign of protest, Benaulim fisherman Francis Fernandes alias Pele, stripped down to his casti (loin cloth) saying that Malpe fishermen were destroying Goan fishermen’s livelihoods. “We are traditional fishermen. I appeal to the government to help us by stopping the Malpe trawlers fishing into Goan waters.”
Reacting to the development, Fisheries Minister Nilkanth Halarnkar said that he had already spoken to Karnataka Director of Fisheries, Dineshkumar Kaller, who assured him of action against Malpe trawlers.