Goenchea Ramponkarancho Ekvott Blast Govt Failure to Curb Illegal Use of Fishing Gear
Panjim, Goa: Agnelo Rodrigues President of Goenchea Ramponkarancho Ekvott (GRE), blast the government failure to curb on illegal use of fishing gear which was banned in 2016 and criticized MLA of St.Andre Constituency for violating LED light ban. The LED lights equipped with or with generator in the territorial waters and Indian Exclusive Zone(EEZ) was banned by state government and subsequently by the central government but sadly the state administration has failed to implement the order the state of Goa till date ,when rest of India has implemented the ban.
Our Goan trawler owners have already destroyed the marine resources and eliminated certain marine species too which was available in abundance round the year in Goas territorial waters and now this same trawlers are destroying the entire west coast specially at Sindhudurg area at Maharashtra. Rodrigues said that It’s a shame that elected MLA of St.Andre Constituency boat named as ‘Sao Paulo’ was caught by Sindhudurg fisheries department after it was alerted by the local fishermen of that area.
We are shocked that the elected member who represent the assembly to uphold the law is the law breaker ,because of such politician the entire marine resources has been exhausted and due to this many trawlers who don’t use LED light are likely to anchore their boats as there is no catch either for the boat owners or the traditional fishermen of Goa.
Rodrigues has future warned that government of Goa as the fishermen will not be the biggest looser but the people of Goa as the fish eaters will have to pay more everyday as there is less fish in the ocean and if the government doesn’t act against the banned destructive gears then soon we will only get formalin or frozen fish.
Olencio Simoes Vice Chairperson of National Fishworkers’ Forum has warned the government if strict action is not taken immediately then their could be law order situation as more clashes will be between Maharashtra and Goan fishermen in high seas.
Report submitted by : Olencio Simoes- Gen. Sec. of GRE, AGFU & Vice Chairperson of National Fish-workers’ Forum)