President of National Fisherworkers’ Forum (NFF) Matanhy Saldanha alleged that almost 50 fishing trawlers from neighbouring Karnataka has entered Goan waters thus violating the Marine Regulation Act, 1981.
Addressing media persons, Saldanha claimed that all the trawlers, involved in fishing along Calangute stretch moving towards South, were without registration numbers. “This is in complete violation of fishing act and the state authorities preferred to ignore the incident inspite of a complaint,” he said adding that even today 16 trawlers were seen fishing.Firebrand leader of fisher-people of Goa, Saldanha said that the complaint has been registered with Directorate of Fisheries and Marine police, who failed to initiate any action.
“I don’t understand, what marine police and coast guards were doing when these trawlers encroached into Goan water illegally,” he said adding “local fishermen, on the other hand are largely harassed by these authorities in absence of documents.
Saldanha said that the local fishermen managed to send back the trawlers and also took over one boat. “It has been happening for quite a long time as there is no ground for fishing in Karnataka. If government fails to take any action, then the forum will approach High Court for justice,” he stated.
Meanwhile, the forum has also criticized government move to restrict fishing ban on all mechanized boats for just 45 days- from June 15 till July 31 as against High Court order, which extends the ban till August 15.“The government move to lift the ban on July 31 is mainly to benefit its party members, who own several fishing trawlers,” Saldanha said naming few members like Alemao and Jose Philip…involved into the business.
[Source]
