Team Goemkarponn
PANAJI: Fisheries Minister Nilkanth Halarnkar, announced the creation of an enforcement branch to keep an eye on cross-border fishing operations.
He told reporters, “I had a meeting with the officials of ICG and State Coastal Police to discuss how the interest of traditional fishermen could be protected and those entering their area could be prevented,” following a joint meeting with representatives of the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) and the Goa Coastal Security Police.
According to Halarnkar, “the officials agreed to protect the traditional fishermen’s interests and have asked to provide them with the necessary equipment.”
The minister claimed to have discussed the problem of trawlers entering Goan waters and denying indigenous fishermen a means of subsistence with the Karnataka Fisheries Director.
“The Kartnataka Fisheries Director has requested that we provide the boat numbers and images so that they can take appropriate action. Fishermen have already been told by the Karnataka government not to go into Goan waters, according to Halarnkar.
Fishermen in the area have expressed worry over the intrusion of trawlers from nearby States, especially Malpe, Karnataka. The livelihood of traditional fisherman has been greatly impacted by these invasions, according to them, as Karnataka boats are regularly observed fishing close to South Goa settlements.
