MARGAO: Goenchea Ramponkaranchea Ekvott (GRE) has submitted a memorandum to the director of fisheries demanding impounding of LED lights being used illegally, bull trawling & high speed engine (China engine).
The memorandum was submitted by GRE President Agnelo Rodrigues and general secretary Olencio Simoes and others.
In their memorandum, the GRE members have asked the Fisheries Director Dr Shamila Monteiro and Minister Avertano Furtado to immediately impound LED lights, bull trawling & high speed engine within seven days and preserve the marine ecology so that the livelihood of fishing communities is protected.
The GRE has threatened to go on a morcha if the fisheries department fails to meet its demands. Warning that the fisheries department would be solely responsible of any untoward incidents during the moracha, the GRE claims that the morcha would have the participation of Old Cross Canoe Association Owners Co-operative Society Ltd, Baina Ramponkar, Fishing Canoe Owners Society, Desteirro Fishermen Association, Shree Shantadurga Fishermen Association, Akhil Goa Kshatriya Pagi Samaj, Canacona Taluka Gabit Fishermen, Nirvikar Fishing Co-operative Society Ltd, Ovleshwar Fishermen Association, AVCB Traditional Fishermen Association, Traditional Fishermen’s Association of North Goa, Vailankanni Saibin Fishermen Association, Baga Sant Khuris Fishermen Association and Laxmi Narayan Fishermen Association.
“The future of 80,000 small and traditional fishing communities of Goa is at stake due to the present destructive use of fishing gears by trawler owners. This destructive use of LED lights, bull trawling & high speed engine clearly violates the law and as such will destroy our livelihood and marine ecology of our State,” said GRE President Agnelo Rodrigues.
“These LED lights, bull trawling & high speed engine are exploiting the natural marine wealth of our ocean to the fullest. The traditional fishermen of Goa strongly opposes the use of LED lights, bull trawling & high speed engine in the territorial waters of Goa.”
