As motorised canoes ventured out in the sea, netting the prized solar shrimp, boat owners said the government is acting as a mere spectator instead of reigning in the canoes without double motors.
President of Cutbona Boat Owner Union Cypriano Cardozo said the government ought to have enforced a total ban on fishing till July 31. “Canoes venturing out in the sea with two motors is in violation of the permissions. We are shocked and surprised that the government has overlooked the rampant violations by the motorised canoes when the authorities have the men and machinery to check the violations,” Cypriano said.
He pointed out that it’s not a big task to crack a whip against the ban violation by deploying men at the landing points. “We have no objection if traditional fishermen have netted the shrimp or fish in the last 2-3 days. But, motorised canoes going out for fishing without two outboard motors is certainly not acceptable,” Cypriano added.
Former Cutbona Boat Owners Union president Patrick D’Silva though the boat owners had brought violations on the fishing ban to the notice of the government, there’s no response so far.
“The fishing ban ought to have been observed in both letter and spirit. How can motorised canoes with double motors venture out in the sea. The government is aware of the ground reality, but have preferred to turn a blind eye,” he said, while demanding to know whether the fishing ban is only meant for the mechanised fishing vessel.
He said that under the guise of traditional fishermen, many an unscrupulous canoe operator have misused the permission by operating the canoes with two motors.
