Goemkarponn desk
PORVORIM: While Goa’s total marine fish catch decreased in 2023–24 as compared to the previous year, species such as tuna, cuttlefish, ribbonfish, and reef cod saw increases in capture.
Nonetheless, the catch of Goa’s favourite species, such as seer fish, prawns, sardines, and mackerel, has decreased. Between 2022–2023 and 2023–2024, the state’s total fish catch decreased by almost 7,000 tonnes to 1,26,990 tonnes.
Fisheries Minister Nilkanth Halarnkar responded to an unstarred question by stating that mackerel production decreased from 55,843 tonnes in 2022–2023 to 50,213 tonnes in 2023–2024. Sardines have also decreased, going from 23,719 tonnes to 18,022 tonnes.
In response to a question regarding the steps taken to prevent a decline in fish production or the extinction of fish species found in Goan waters, Halarnkar stated that the state government had imposed a 61-day monsoon fishing ban in Goa’s territorial waters from June 1 to July 31. Additionally, fishing with mechanized vessels between the hours of 7 p.m. and 5 a.m. in certain areas was also prohibited.
The minister further declared that it is illegal to use motorized fishing craft or mechanized fishing vessels for purse-seining, gill-netting, or bull or pair trawling, as well as to use fishing equipment such as LED lights, fish light attractors, or any other type of light equipment with or without a generator.
The state government was informed that in order to forbid the use of explosives to catch or kill fish in both inland and coastal waters, a provision has been made that states that no one is allowed to use dynamite or any other explosive substance with the intention of catching or destroying fish in any body of water and that no one is allowed to introduce poison, lime, or other noxious material into any body of water with the intention of catching or destroying any fish there.
The minister announced that the process of installing artificial reefs along the coast of Goa has been started by the fisheries department.
