PANJIM: Traditional fishermen in Goa are raising alarms over a significant decline in this year’s fish catch, attributing it to the intrusion of trawlers from Maharashtra and Karnataka into Goan waters. These fishermen assert that the influx of trawlers from neighboring states is not only depriving them of their livelihood but also threatening the sustainability of traditional fishing practices that have been passed down for generations.
Expressing their dismay over the situation, the fishermen highlight the alarming sight of nearly 40 trawlers from neighboring states plundering fish from waters adjoining Goa. Despite lodging numerous complaints, they lament the authorities’ apathy and cite delayed responses from coastal police and fisheries department officials, who often arrive too late to intervene effectively.
The fishermen stress that this delay isn’t solely due to the inefficiency of law enforcement but also because of the lack of adequate resources, such as boats, to tackle such violations. In their plea to the Chief Minister, they demand urgent action and the provision of at least five boats to the coastal police to intercept and catch rogue trawlers encroaching on Goan waters.
Fishermen struggling to survive financially have repeatedly voiced their concerns about the rampant intrusion of trawlers jeopardizing their traditional fishing business and livelihood. They underscore the urgency of safeguarding age-old local businesses from the encroachment of non-Goan fishermen and emphasize the need for decisive measures to curb the disruptive activities of outside trawlers.
One fisherman, Pele Fernandes from Benaulim, narrates the impact on their catch, stating, “The fish catch is gradually decreasing. We had gone fishing at 5:30 am and returned after three hours. Earlier, we used to get at least three to four baskets of all types of fish including crabs. Today after three hours, we got half a basket of fish.” He further adds, “With the plundering of our fish resources by outsiders, we do not get any fish.”
Fernandes also highlights the ineffectiveness of the surveillance mechanism, stating, “On several occasions, we have intimated the Coastal Police and the Fisheries department. But they come after one or one and a half hours.” He emphasizes the urgent need for intervention, urging the authorities to take decisive action to protect the livelihoods of local fishermen and preserve the sustainability of traditional fishing practices in Goan waters.
