Team Goemkarponn
Panaji: In a major admission in the Goa Assembly, the State government on Wednesday acknowledged serious gaps in its current strategy to curb illegal fishing, even as it unveiled a new drone-based aerial surveillance initiative to monitor activities along the coastline.
Fisheries Minister Nilkant Halarnkar said the government has tied up with a Maharashtra-based agency for drone operations, which have already undergone a successful trial.
“The drones will detect, track and identify unauthorised fishing vessels. The Coast Guard and Coastal Police have powers to seize and attach these vessels,” Halarnkar informed the House.
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said 17-18 fishing boats involved in illegal bull trawling have been seized recently, and those involved were jailed for two days before being released after paying penalties. “LED light fishing and bull trawling are rampant in Goa. We need a concrete mechanism to address these activities, especially near the 12-nautical mile limit close to the Karnataka and Maharashtra borders,” the CM said.
However, several MLAs questioned the government’s seriousness in tackling the issue. MLA Vijai Sardesai raised concerns over Goan fish being transported to Gujarat and Karnataka, demanding stricter enforcement within Goa’s territorial waters.
Leader of Opposition Yuri Alemao pressed the government to explain its enforcement mechanism following drone surveillance. Sawant admitted that while drones are being used to capture photographic evidence, more needs to be done. “Drone surveillance is an additional tool, not a standalone solution,” he clarified.
MLA Aleixo Reginaldo Lourenco questioned the Fisheries Department’s plan to stop rampant illegal fishing, while AAP’s Venzy Viegas demanded a unified coastal agency to support traditional fishermen and enforce regulations effectively.
Halarnkar assured the House that the Fisheries Department will address the issues raised, but stopped short of announcing any timeline or concrete operational plan.
The debate has cast a spotlight on the government’s fragmented enforcement approach even as violations continue unabated along Goa’s coast.
