Team Herald
MARGAO: Concerns about the slow start to the fishing season were raised at a meeting held at the office of Fisheries Minister Nilkanth Halarnkar on Tuesday evening. Various leaders of fishing associations from across Goa, including Panjim, Vasco and Betul, were present for the meeting. Halarnkar conceded that the fishing season that began on August 1 had not gotten off to a great start.
“Only some small boats that have five to seven labourers have managed to go out, but the big purse seine trawlers that stay out at sea for eight to ten days are yet to go out in full force,” said Halarnkar.
The minister also said the government is focused on expediting work on improving the infrastructure at jetties across Goa and that there were some delays in the past in obtaining CRZ permissions, which have been cleared now. The Minister urged the youth to take up crab farming activity, for which he said the Centre is offering subsidies. “This
could be a way for unemployed youth to earn a side income.
Speaking about the issues raised by the fishing associations that met him, Halarnkar said that whatever equipment they want to put on their boats has to be in line with the law. He said there were discussions on the limitations of putting generators on the boat. The Minister further added that the trawler owners were speaking about what they should be allowed to do after the 15 nautical miles in the ocean. He said the State government is firm on implementing the ban on LED lights as that is a central law. The Goa Fishing Boat Owners President Jose Phillip D’Souza said it was important that the fishing community had an opportunity to meet the Minister in person.
