Team Goemkarponn
NERUL: At Nerul, Bardez, two fishing trawlers from Malpe, Karnataka, were apprehended for engaging in illicit fishing in Goa waters.
In addition to pursuing the trawlers, Goenchea Ramponkarancho Ekvott (GRE) traditional fisherman assisted the Coastal Security police in capturing two fish-carrying vessels. Later, both boats were taken to the Panjim jetty with fish that were valued at millions of rupees. It was told that legal action would be taken against the owners of both vessels.
Fishermen claim that between 50 and 60 trawlers were fishing illegally in Goa waters. However, two vessels were seized by fisherman with the assistance of coastal security authorities. A variety of fish, including several that are prohibited from being caught this month, were loaded onto both boats.
Inside the boats they discovered fish species such as Somdhalo (butterfish), Diana (leather jacket fish), Korli (silver bar), Bangdo (mackerels), Gobro (reef cod), and Maanki (squids).
The Department of Fisheries’ lack of responsiveness was lamented by the fishermen. They said that boats from a neighboring state were utilizing LED lights, and that the government was not monitoring this practice.
They drew attention to the fact that fishing with LED lights was forbidden in the state by an order issued by the state administration in May 2016 but that it was not strictly implemented.
Within a month, two boats from Malpe were apprehended fishing in Goa seas for the second time. Two Malpe boats were apprehended on October 4 while engaging in illicit fishing in Goa waters, which are within ten nautical miles of Bat Island and the Vasco coast.
