VASCO: Goenchea Raponkarancho Ekvott (GRE) has slammed the All Goa Purse-Seiners Boat Owners’ Association General Secretary Sebastiao Cardozo for “maligning the image” of GRE and their leader Olencio Simoes.
In a press not issued by GRE, its President Agnelo Rodrigues said that GRE would knock the doors of judiciary in this matter. And the GRE might file a defamation case and police complaint against Sebastiao Cardozo and his association members as he along with others are involved in illegal fishing activities, Rodrigues said.
Rodrigues alleged that purse-seiners have illegal boats as they have fitted illegal high powered engines of 700hp, which is a blatant violation of the fisheries department guidelines; rule permits only 280hp engines. He also alleged that the boats used by the purse-seiners have exceeded the permitted size.
“Besides, purse-seiners are using all the possible destructive and illegal fishing gears which are banned by the State and Central governments. These boat owners are also blatantly violating the ban on LED lights and bull/pair trawling,” Rodrigues claimed.
He stated that few boat owners are using high powered LED bulbs, having power rating of upto 5000 watts.
