Old problem of difficulty in navigation at the mouth of river Sal continues to haunt boat owners
TEAM HERALD
teamherald@herald-goa.com
PANJIM: Even as the 61-day-long fishing ban came to an end on Wednesday midnight, uncertainty looms over the fishing season with fishing community keeping its fingers crossed following weather warnings issued by the Indian Meteorological Department, Goa.
Fishing operations have also been hindered by the shortage of workforce across the State.
Considering the strong winds and rough seas, IMD Goa observatory in the last few days had been issuing weather warnings directing fishermen not to venture into the sea.
Even on Wednesday, IMD asked fishermen not to venture into the sea for the next 24-hours.
“Winds will be south-westerly with wind speed of 45-50 kmph temporarily reaching 60 kmph in gust. Sea will be rough with mainly south westerly waves. Fishermen are advised not to venture in the sea,” the warning reads.
Meanwhile, IMD has also forecast heavy rainfall accompanied by gusty winds for the State as of now.
Over the last one week, two canoes capsized. However there were no casualties.
The State government this year extended the fishing ban period from 45 days to 61 days, applicable for all motorized fishing vessels, except manually operated canoes.
When contacted, Mandovi Fishermen’s Co-operative Society (MFCS), Menino Afonso, said that fishermen are keeping their fingers crossed over the weather conditions.
“Small fishermen, who do not venture deep into sea, might start their work. But actual season might take another 15 days to commence,” Afonso said confirming that there is also a shortage of workforce.
TEAM HERALD
teamherald@herald-goa.com
MARGAO: Same old problems continue to haunt boat owners operating from the Cutbona fishing jetty. The hostile navigation conditions at the mouth of River Sal may even play spoil sport to the preparations by boat owners to venture out in the sea on Thursday, the first day of fishing season.
Otherwise, just consider this. It has been years now since the boat owners have been demanding a smooth navigational channel at the mouth of River Sal on the lines of Malpei harbour, but in vain. The recommendation made by a West Bengal-based consultant to build a retaining wall to ensure smooth navigation at the river mouth is also awaiting implementation by the Fisheries Department.
While boat owners across the state are looking forward to the new fishing season, their counterparts from Cutbona and Betul say that their future depends on the navigation conditions prevailing at the mouth of the river.
“The river Sal mouth plays havoc during navigation. Many a time, our counterparts from Vasco, Malim and other places venture out for fishing, but we have to depend on the mercy of the conditions at the river mouth. Even today, we have noticed hostile conditions at the river mouth,” remarked president of Cutbona Boat Owners Union Seby Cardozo.
He said that boat owners under the banner of Cutbona Boat Owners Union had knocked the doors of all and sundry to alleviate their hardships, but in vain.
Secondly, the construction of the toilet block at the fishing jetty is yet to become a reality, though the Fisheries Department says Sulabh International will build around 50 toilets at the jetty.
