Govt assures protection to Goan trawlers

TEAM HERALD
teamherald@herald-goa.com
MARGAO: The government would ask the Coast Guard and the coastal police to provide security for Goan fishing vessels in the Arabian Sea in the wake of the attack on a local fishing trawler by vessels from Karnataka.
The Fisheries department will also take up the issue with their Karnataka counterparts if details of the accused vessels are made available by the local boat owners.
Director of Fisheries Nandkishore Verlekar told Herald that the attack on the Goan trawler is a matter of concern and his office will officially ask the Coast Guard and the coastal police to provide security to the local boats within its territorial waters.
“I have been intimated by the boat owners from Cubtona on the attack on the local fishing trawler off Colva coast. I am awaiting official complaint from the boat owners to write letters to the Coast guard and the coastal police”, Verlekar told Herald.
Fisheries Minister, Avertano Furtado said that the attack on the Goan trawler is a matter of concern, adding that the Directorate of Fisheries will take appropriate measures to secure the interests of local boat owners.
Meanwhile, President of Cutbona Boat Owners Union Patrick D’Silva has said that the Union has taken up the issue with their Malpei counterparts and demanded action.
He said the president of the Malpei Union has promised action from their end if details of the accused fishing vessel are made available to them.
Meanwhile, the Colva police on Saturday noon conducted panchanama of the fishing vessel damaged in the attack by Karnataka vessels following a complaint lodged by trawlers owner Dilip Gauns on Friday. The vessel has suffered major damage and has caused a loss of Rs eight lakhs.