Team Herald
PANJIM/CUNCOLIM: Over 500 traditional fishermen took to the streets in the capital on Wednesday to protest the government’s failure to take action against the “unnatural fishing methods” used by sections of the fishing community.
The protestors, under the banner of Goenchea Ramponkarancho Ekvott (Unity of Goan Traditional Fishermen), also left their canoes in the Rivers Mandovi and Sal, and laid down their fishing equipment.
Fisheries Minister Avertano Furtado said that the situation has been brought under control and that there will be strict implementation of the law in coordination with the Fisheries Department, district Collector’s office and Coastal Police.
He further added that earlier no adequate action could be taken as there was no proper law and thus the notification was issued on Tuesday to help the government implement the same.
He said that he had spoken to those opposing LED lights.
While hundreds remained onboard boats, the remaining marched to the Fisheries Department, seeking immediate action against the violators. Not only was the river channel blocked the entire day, but road traffic was also partially affected.
“There is depletion of fish in Goan waters owing to the use of unnatural ways of fishing. High voltage LED lights and bull trawling adopted by the purse seiners (mechanised trawlers) are affecting the staple food,” said GRE general secretary Olencio Simoes.
The fisherfolk were also irked by the complacent attitude of the Fisheries Director Shamila Monteiro and Fisheries Minister Avertano Furtado, who only gave them verbal assurances but did not implement the LED ban. Furtado and RDA Minister Alina Saldanha, earlier during the day, met Monteiro to convey the grievances of the fisherfolk. However, the assurance that action against the violators would be taken by roping in the Coast Guards did not satisfy the fishermen.
The fisherfolk demanded that immediate action be taken, even as a notification prohibiting the use of LEDs and bull or paired trawling was issued on Tuesday.
“A powerful beam of light, over 5,000 watts, is focused into the calm sea waters and the sea is lit up. The fish, such as huge kingfish, tuna, shark and even spawning fish, are attracted to the light and get netted, resulting into their depletion in the near future,” said Simoes, adding that traditional fishermen had demanded confiscation of the powerful China-made LED lights so that fish are allowed to breed naturally.
The protesting fishermen claimed they had identified the vessels of the violators, including the registration numbers, but the Fisheries Department was not ensuring immediate action against them.
Meanwhile, traditional fishermen and small boat owners from Cutbona joined the protest by anchoring their boats at sea, leading to a major blockage at the Cutbona jetty. They demanded a complete ban on LED lights and prompt action against the boat owners who used the same despite the notification of the Fisheries Department.
“How can the Fisheries Department allow such an illegal act? We will not remove our boats from the sea till the department stops these boat owners from using LED lights. The department must confiscate all ships that use LED lights,” said a protestor.
Around 100 small boats have been anchored at sea so that big boats will not able to reach the jetty. The protestors pointed out that some big ships had ventured into the deep sea for fishing and would reach the jetty late Wednesday night or early Thursday morning.
With the situation tense in Cutbona, sources stated that there may be a tussle if the big boats reached the jetty. However, Cuncolim police are keeping a strict vigil to prevent untoward incidents.
