According to Fisheries Minister, Avertano Furtado, the trouble began after the incident at Malwan where boats belonging to Goa trawler owners were badly damaged and some items even set on fire.
It is to be noted that 5 boats owned by Goan trawler owners were held hostage by fishermen and the fisheries department of Maharashtra for 36 hours. The boat owners were forced to pay a fine even after the boats were damaged and all the Goan trawler owners had called for the stop on fish coming from Maharashtra.
“There were many problems because of that but after that the Goa DIG and the DSP of police went to Malwan with the boat owners. The situation had been resolved then and the trawler owners got their stuff back and even their nets from the sea were returned to them. However, soon afterwards, they were met with opposition when they went there again. This upset the boat owners as they wondered why the issue arose again after it had just been resolved,” said Furtado.
Post this, the Goan trawler owners decided to stop the unloading of fish from Malwan in Goa for a temporary period till the situation was solved. Furtado pointed out that they had also held a meeting with the agents of the Margao fish market and there was an agreement to co-operate.
“I don’t know how the situation worsened but there was an untoward incident and the wholesale fish market agents called for a ban,” he went on to say.
