PANJIM: The 61-day long fishing ban was lifted on August 1 but nearly one week later, traditional fishermen are still unable to venture out into the sea owing to the rough and adverse weather conditions.
Menino D’Souza, secretary of Caranzalem Ramponkar Ekvott spoke to Herald on Thursday and lamented about the situation they find themselves in. Normally by August 1, they start work but this season, he feels they will have to wait for another four-five days at least before the sea conditions allow them to venture out.
The famous fisherman from Benaulim Pele Fernandes rued the fact that around four canoes that did venture out into the sea, capsized causing a total loss of around 15 lakh.
He said, “Two such boats had been completely destroyed due to the weather conditions.”
Pele called on the Fisheries Department and Minister to enforce a boundary of 5 kms wherein only Ramponkars be allowed to operate with their fishing boats and not other bigger-sized boats.”
“The livelihoods of all such traditional fishermen are at stake as they are unable to take their canoes for fishing. If the department enforces this, then there could be some relief for the traditional fishermen,” he added.
Menino on the other hand called on the Tourism Minister to pay attention to the amount of garbage that is left on the beaches, which he says is finding its way to their fishing nets and contributing to sea pollution.
