Cutbona jetty witnesses hectic loading of fishing nets, ice
Hectic activity was witnessed at the Cutbona fishing jetty on the eve of the new fishing season beginning on August 1.
Photo Credits: Santosh Mirajkar
MARGAO
Amidst an orange alert issued by the IMD, the stage is set for the commencement of the new fishing season, beginning from August 1, with the boat owners hoping the weather gods would permit them to venture out to the sea.
South largest fishing hub, the Cutbona fishing jetty witnessed hectic activity of workers loading fishing nets and ice into the fishing boats anchored in River Sal.
Sources pointed out that more than 50 per cent of the migrant workers have reported at the fishing jetty after the boat owners headed to the states of Odisha and Jharkhand to get the manpower.
Former Cutbona Boat Owners Union Patrick D’Silva informed that most of the labourers have either reported at the jetty or are on their way to the state. "There is some delay over the arrival of the workers. Some may report back to the jetty in the coming days, but definitely we hope to see the workers reporting at the jetty”, he said.
On the prospects of venturing out in the sea on Thursday, Day one of the fishing season with the IMD issuing orange alert, Patrick conceded that the weather is not conducive for venturing out, but added that some boats may try to go into the sea tomorrow.
Referring to the hostile navigation issue plaguing the fishing vessels operating at the Cutbona fishing jetty, Patrick said the proposed backwater facility, if implemented at the mouth of river Sal at Betul, would have ensured smooth navigation for the fishing boats .
Incidentally, Patrick wondered how come motorized canoes have ventured into the sea before the fishing ban could end on July 27, demanding to know whether the activity did not come under the scanner of the fisheries department.
“So many motorized canoes have been in the sea in the last few days, but the fisheries department have their focus on what is happening at the fishing jetties at Cutbona, Vasco and Malim”, he added.
Another former Cutbona Boat Owners Union President Savio D’Silza said some of the fishing boats at Cutbona have loaded ice and fishing nets into the vessels ahead of the new fishing season.
Savio demanded that the fishermen, including the boat owners should be protected from the syndicate of fish agents. “This year the rate of solar shrimp is not good. The boat owners should get protection from the government over the rate or else the fishing industry will get destroyed”, he said.
Meanwhile, the boat owners under the Cutbona boat owners Federation had a meeting with fish agents at the Cutbona fishing jetty on Wednesday.
After the meeting, Savio D’Silva told the media that Boat owners have demanded that the Fisheries department should protect the fishermen from unscrupulous agents who disappear without clearing the dues of the boat owners.
Savio D’Silva informed that the boat owners had a meeting with around 12-13 fish agents to discuss about the new season and on the question of registration.
