PANAJI
While the authorities woke up after a deep slumber to ensure hygiene at all fishing jetties after cholera and dengue outbreak at Cutbona, the Fisheries Department remains evasive on the long-standing menace of the otherwise banned LED fishing.
With only one patrolling vessel limited to 5 nautical miles, illegal fishing thrives far beyond the department’s reach.
Moreover, the department boasts about booking 19 violators but all cases have been quietly disposed off perhaps without any action.
Despite government claims of having two patrol vessels for territorial waters, which extend up to 12 nautical miles, details with The Goan reveal that the available patrol boat can only operate within 5 nautical miles.
The department has two vessels -- Ocean Queen, actually a trawler used for training students and not patrolling; and Ave Maria, a GSL-built patrol vessel that cannot travel beyond 5 nautical miles. “Ave Maria was designed as a coastal patrol vessel, not for intercepting LED fishing boats,” revealed an official source.
Sources further disclosed that LED fishing often takes place between 15 to 60 nautical miles offshore, much beyond the capabilities of Goa’s fisheries officials.
In a recent submission to the Bombay High Court at Goa, then Fisheries Director Shamila Monteiro submitted that vessel owners are required to obtain a valid pass from the department before setting out to sea for fishing or face penalties. She also took an oath that department officials maintain a watch on vessels when passes are issued to ensure compliance before they leave the jetty.
The submission was made in response to an ongoing hearing into a Public Interest Litigation alleging that the use of LED lights, artificial lights and fishing attractors was rampant along with the practice of bull or pair trawling.
However, sources stated that of the 800-odd trawlers leaving jetties daily, nearly 25 per cent do not obtain any such passes.
Reliable sources further countered the submission stating that no fines or penalties are imposed for violations or for failing to pay fishing license fees by the December 31 deadline. The Goan tried reaching out to the new Director Yashaswini B but in vain.
