High number in boats capsize slow starts fishing season

PANJIM: It’s been nearly two weeks since the fishing ban was lifted and while the fishing sector has seen a slow start, there have been an increase in the number of boats that have capsized.
Anjuna, Arambol, Benaulim, Colva, Baina are just some of the places that have witnessed such incidents where the lifeguards on duty had to rescue fishermen who had to jump off these boats. Boat owners have complained that they have suffered losses in lakh of rupees; these boats were completely destroyed.
These incidents also got other boat owners to think twice before venturing out into the sea given the adverse weather conditions.
While ramponkars and trawler owners have just started venturing out, there have been calls for the fisheries department to step in and ensure there weather updates are relayed to the fishermen in a more efficient manner.
“I think fisheries department should set up central monitoring system where the department can connect/track every canoe or trawler venturing into sea,” said Camilo Souza, Vice President of the Goenche Ramponkarancho Ekvott (GRE).
Several smaller fishermen associations from different villages have also demanded that the Fisheries Department step up their efforts to provide compensation to the destroyed boats.
However, fishermen lamented that this may not materialize given that in the past too their pleas had fallen on deaf ears.
“We have not received any compensation from Fisheries Department as more than ten canoe has been damaged which include canoes, nets and motors,” said Olencio Simoes, GRE General Secretary.
The fishing community has also criticized the Fisheries Department and the State government for reducing all subsidies by 50%, which they say has affected them adversely.  
“The catch has been less lately and we hope and have prayed that we get a good bumper catch this season,” said Peter Da Silva, a boat owner, who added that the authorities should have used the time of the fishing ban to reach out to the fishing community.
The trawler owners also had made demands to the government regarding reimbursement on diesel amongst other issues they had raised with the Fisheries Department.
They are also concerned about migrant vendors selling fish, which has affected local fishermen who pay sopo and other fees to sell fish at the market place or other designated areas
“It is sad that after we get our catch, we have to deal with such unfair and illegal practices from these vendors who deny our local vendors their legitimate share of the market,” said Anthony Fernandes, a trawler operator.