A damaged fishing trawler at Kharewaddo Jetty.
THE GOAN NETWORK
VASCO
Former Minister and President of the All Goa Fishing Boat Owners Association Jose Philip D’Souza on Thursday criticised the government for ignoring the long-pending demands of the fishing community in Vasco.
He claimed that authorities had failed to extend the existing fishing jetty at Kharewaddo, which is inadequate for the number of boats operating from the area.
“This has been a long-time demand of the fishermen and boat owners at Kharewaddo. Despite multiple assurances from both union and state ministers, nothing has been done. Recently, we even invited the newly appointed Director of Fisheries to visit the site and see our working conditions first-hand. She assured us of some support, but we are still waiting for action,” said D’Souza.
He clarified that the fishermen are not asking for a large-scale jetty as proposed by the Mormugao Port Authority (MPA) but simply an extension of the existing one to accommodate their needs.
“We don’t want a jetty that disregards the sentiments of our traditional canoe owners. We just need an extension of the current jetty, which is insufficient for the 250 fishing boats operating here. The present facility can only accommodate about 10 boats at a time, leaving the rest struggling to unload their catch. Fish is a perishable commodity—where will the other boats go?” he questioned.
D’Souza also highlighted the financial burden on fishermen due to overcrowding at the jetty.
“These big boats collide against each other, causing damages that cost lakhs to repair. The fishing business becomes unviable when such losses occur. Many traditional fishermen have sold their boats and left Goa or even the country to seek other jobs, leading to the decline of our traditional fishing industry. When will the government finally understand our plea?” he asked.
Expressing frustration over repeated unfulfilled assurances, D’Souza accused the government of giving step-motherly treatment to the Kharewaddo fishing community.
“The government has recently built well-planned fishing jetties at Malim, Betul, Cutbona, and even a smaller but systematic one at Cortalim. Why is Kharewaddo Jetty being ignored? The government has spent crores on these jetties but refuses to allocate funds for Kharewaddo. Every time, we are given assurances during the assembly, but nothing happens afterward,” he lamented.
D’Souza urged Chief Minister Pramod Sawant to intervene and ensure that the fishermen’s demands are met.
“I request the CM to personally look into our request and help us with an extension of the existing jetty at minimal cost. This will ensure that our fishermen and boat owners can sustain their livelihood in this traditional occupation,” he stated.
