Team Goemkarponn
PANAJI: Fiseries Minister Nilkanth Halarnkar said that starting today, coastal police would strictly implement round-the-clock monitoring against illicit fishing.
“Traditional fishermen have expressed alarm about Malpe boats that have started coming into our waterways. The Coastal Police will keep a steady watch starting on Saturday. Strong orders to cease illicit fishing have been given by Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, according to Halarnkar.
“Boats from outside enter, fish, and then flee,” he continued. In order to prevent future complaints from fisherman, we have made the decision to defend the shoreline from Chapora to Canacona.”
Halarnkar also discussed the issue with Karnataka Fisheries Director, after which Karnataka issued standing instructions to its fishing boats not to enter Goa waters. Min Nilkanth also said that urveillance boats to keep strict vigil.
The Chief Minister recently threatened to arrest, punish, and seize boats from any fisherman from foreign States seen fishing in Goa’s territorial waters. Following his meeting with a delegation of traditional fisherman in Porvorim, he gave these directives.
Off the coast of Velsao, last week, Goa’s traditional fisherman risked their lives to drive away Malpe trawlers in their canoes.
They were near Grand Island and Bat Island, in Goan territorial waters.
