Team Goemkarponn
PANAJI: In a memo sent to the Department of Fisheries, the Goenchea Raponkarancho Ekvott (GRE) called for the prohibition of illegal LED fishing, which is depleting the State’s fishing supplies and negatively impacting traditional fishermen’s livelihood.
GRE general secretary Olencio Simoes later told reporters that they met with Fisheries Director and Fisheries Minister Nilkanth Halarnkar at his home in Colvale and presented their arguments to them. When the issue was under judicial review, he wanted to know how LED fishing was being conducted in Goan waters.
On February 12, there were reports of unlawful LED fishing in Goan waters, Olencio stated, and he demanded to know what steps had been made to stop the vessel involved.
Simoes also slammed people who didn’t pay attention to the illegalities at the jetties.
“The supervisors posted at the jetties across the State should be suspended as they had no fear of laws and the Court,” he stated.
Simoes claimed that during on a recent trip to Sri Lanka, he witnessed firsthand how the widespread use of LED fishing there had devastated the traditional fishermen’s means of subsistence. If nothing was done to prevent illegal LED fishing, he feared that the traditional fisherman of Goa will suffer the same fate.
According to the GRE general secretary, vessels from nearby Malpe were breaking into Goa waterways and engaging in illicit nighttime LED fishing. He insisted that the department launch raids and confiscate these vessels right away.
Simoes also suggested amending the Goa Marine Fishing Regulation Act of 1980 and imposing severe penalties on the violators.
