Team Herald
MARGAO: Traditional fishermen from the Zuari river belt allege that coastal police are not acting on their complaints because the Fisheries Department is refusing to cooperate with them. They also questioned the delay of the government in repairing patrol boats belonging to the Department.
The fishermen alleged that the Fisheries Department was not happy that the police had directly collaborated with the fishermen to crackdown on illegal purse seine fishing in the Zuari river, and claimed that the police are unwilling to act unless the Fisheries Department deputes their personnel on the raiding team. However, the Fisheries Department is not doing this, the fishermen complained.
Traditional fishermen added that they had even informed the coastal police about the presence of trawlers carrying on illegal fishing in the Zuari river last week and that these trawlers had even reached deep inside the river at Nauxim and Siridao.
“Goa Fisheries Minister Nilkanth Halarnkar says he has increased registration fees and license fees of fishing vessels, to build jetties. However, he looks content with the paralyzed patrol boats of the Fisheries Department that are perennially in non-working condition,” the fishermen added, alleging that the department is determined to promote illegal trawling in the Zuari.
