CUTBONA: The Purse Seine Boat Owners have served a legal notice to the Fisheries department with regard to impounding their boats with generators.
It may be recalled that earlier this week following inspections from the Fisheries Department, a few boats were impounded for having generators which were allegedly flouting the recent notification.
However, the purse seine boat owners claimed that only two boat owners were being targeted and that the generators were not being used for LED lights but other functional uses that are necessary for the boats. They also alleged that the Fisheries Department itself uses a generator.
The Fisheries Department has replied to the notice and provided the boat owners with a copy of the inspection report and the complaint registered against them.
It may be recalled that the Purse Seiners have decided to challenge the notification in the court. They further alleged that the Karnataka boats and boats from other states were using LED devices but the Fisheries Department had failed to take action against them even for entering into Goan waters.
Meanwhile, the Fisheries Department officials stated they are checking to see that all boat owners have removed or are in the process of removing the LED devices on their boats.
Furthermore, the boat owners have been asked to install a tracker on their boats that could spot their GPS locations.
The last two weeks at the jetty have seen tense movements with a section of the boat owners demanding that action be initiated against boats flouting norms.
There was a flash point last between them and the Purse Seiners over the alleged flouting of norms while the Fisheries Department, Captain of Ports, coastal police and deputy collector have been monitoring the situation.
The traditional ramponnkars have also demanded the Fisheries Department show them a compliance report if all the boat owners, as per the list provided to the Fisheries Department, had removed the LED devices and other banned gear.
