PORVORIM: MLAs from the Opposition as well as the ruling bench on Friday hit out at the government for failing to implement the ban on LED fishing within Goa’s waters.Speaking in the State Assembly during the discussion on demands, MLAs said that rampant illegal fishing by trawlers was affecting the livelihood of the ramponnkars- Goa’s traditional fishing community.
“The interests of traditional fishermen are being threatened by illegal LED fishing. Whenever we report illegal fishing within the zones that are marked for traditional fishermen, the Fisheries Department and coastal police give the excuse that they don’t have a patrolling vessel. I request the government to provide the required number of patrolling vessels,” Taleigao MLA Jennifer Monserrate said.
Aldona MLA Adv Carlos Alvares Ferreira and Curtorim MLA Aleixo Reginaldo Lourenco sought details on the steps taken by the Fisheries Department to implement the ban on LED fishing. Former Chief Minister Digambar Kamat raised concerns over the discontinuation of the Mobile Fish Stall Scheme and has called for thorough inspections to ensure its effectiveness.
Kamat stressed the need to verify whether the vendors are providing fish at affordable prices as intended by the scheme. His concerns were echoed by Navelim MLA Ulhas Tuenkar, who pointed out that several fish vending vans have disappeared from the scheme.
In response, Fisheries Minister Nilkanth Halarnkar clarified that the Scheme had provided five fish vending vans in 2017-18 and four in 2018-19, totalling nine vans. However, the vans were removed after the Scheme was discontinued by the Centre, he said.
