Goenchea Raponkarancho Ekvott (GRE) a federation of traditional fishermen of Goa on April 2, 2020, wrote to the Director of the Fisheries Department, Goa’s Fisheries Minister, Chief Minister, Fisheries Minister of India including letters to the Prime Minister of India and Home Minister of India highlighting the issue of illegitimate means used for fishing and poor implementation of the ban on destructive fishing gears and methods imposed by the State government itself.
Further highlighting the order issued by the state government, the GRE in its memorandum mentioned that the government in its notification in 2001 had banning the use of destructive gears like Bull or pair trawling and use of LED lights equipped with or with generator in territorial waters.
“As Goa has been the first State to ban such destructive gears, in pursuance with the State government banning the use of Bull or pair trawling and use of LED lights equipped with or with generator in the territorial waters and Indian Exclusive Zone (EEZ). But sadly rampant violation is still being continued in territorial waters and Indian Exclusive Zone (EEZ)”, the memorandum stated
Since the last four years, the violation of the ban on Bull or pair trawling, and use of LED lights equipped with or without a generator in the territorial waters and Indian Exclusive Zone (EEZ) still continues without the fear of the law or government; and due to the negligent use of such destructive gears that is used by such handful purse-seine owners, it has totally destroyed the nursing grounds of several species of fish and marine ecology, “the memorandum states further.
As a result, the traditional fishermen are heading to fish famine in the State of Goa, claimed GRE. Against that backdrop, GRE said it prays that the department concerned acts independently and suspends all fishing licenses of such boats.
“As of today the biggest losers along with the entire fishing the industry is also the consumers who purchase fish at exorbitant rates, due to less fish caught by the fishermen of Goa,” GRE added.
