TEAM HERALD
teamherald@herald-goa.com
MARGAO: Fishing vessels dropped anchor at the fishing jetties across the state on Saturday in response to the strike call to protest the hike in diesel rates by the Centre.
While Goans may find fish in the markets on Sunday given that fishing vessels returned back to the jetties on Saturday with small quantities of fish, the markets may witness a fish shortage on Monday.
Fishing vessels did not venture out for fishing from the Cutbona jetty today and vessels which were fishing in the sea returned back today and dropped anchor.
President of Cutbona Boat Owners Union Patrick D’Silva said none of the fishing vessels from the Goan jetties will venture out into the sea on Sunday. He said the boat owners from across the state will meet on Sunday to chalk out the future course of action, including stopping fishing imported from Tamil Nadu and other states in the state. “We are considering stopping import of fish from Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh from Monday if our demands for roll back of diesel prices are not met by then”, Patrick said.
He said the boat owners will call on the Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar and Fisheries Minister, Avertano Furtado again before going ahead with their plan of action. “The Chief Minister has been very sympathetic to our demands for a roll back in the prices of diesel”, he said, adding that the Chief Minister himself has promised to join the agitation for a roll back in diesel prices.
Replying to a question, he said mechanized boat owners along the west coast had been protesting over the hike in diesel prices since the last couple of days.
