TEAM HERALD
teamherald@herald-goa.com
MARGAO: Mechanised boat owners are maintaining a strict vigil over any attempt by motorised canoes to venture out in the sea from July 25, even as Fisheries Minister Avertano Furtado maintained that the department has intimated the coastal police as well as the District Collector to strictly enforce the ban on fishing.
Boat owners are believed to have contacted Fisheries Minister to find out whether Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar has further relaxed the fishing ban for the motorised canoes.
“I have told the boat owners that only motorised canoes fitted with engines below 10 horsepower can venture out for fishing. There’s no relaxation on the ban provision. The motorised canoes cannot use mini purse seine nets to catch fish during the ban period. The Chief Minister has not given any concessions to the motorised canoes. We are meeting on Friday to review the situation,” Avertano asserted.
Boat owners, however, are maintaining a strict vigil on the motorised canoes, especially in the Velsao-Cansaulim belt.
“We are maintaining a close watch on preparations underway at the Velsao beach belt following information that a number of motorised canoes may use semi purse seine nets for fishing during the ban period,” informed Cutbona Boat Owners Union President Seby Cardozo.
In this connection, the boat owners are believed to have had a meeting with wholesale fish agents at the Cutbona fishing jetty on Tuesday, insisting that no wholesaler should buy fish from the motorised canoes if they are found fishing in violation of the ban.
Seby confirmed having a meeting with the wholesale fish agents at the Cutbona fishing jetty, adding that a delegation of the boat owners would immediately call on Fisheries Minister and later the Chief Minister if there’s any violation of the fishing ban by the motorised canoes.
Sources in the know, however, said that prevailing weather conditions, with heavy rains accompanied by gusty winds, may not be conducive for the motorised canoes to venture out in the sea for fishing.
Meanwhile, the Fisheries Minister said that his department has written letters to the coastal police and the District Collectors on the strict implementation of the ban on fishing.
Avertano said the police have been asked to crack a whip against any fishing vessel violating the provisions of the ban.
