MARGAO
This Benaulim-based traditional fisherman has thrown up a gauntlet to the august Members of the Goa Legislative Assembly – beat him in a swimming competition in the Arabian sea or scrap the fishing rules mandating registration of fishing gear, including fishing rods used for Goans for hobby or sport.
As a novel way of a protest against the Fisheries department circular, fisherman Pele Fernandes took to the sea with the “traditional line fishing” to net fish such as catfish, baby shevtte et al.
“This line fishing has been handed down to the young fishermen by our ancestors. The line fishing is being used as a hobby or sport by the fishermen or simply to eke a living,” Pele said, demanding to know why should the latest rules mandate the fishermen or any citizen to register and pay fees for the fishing activity.
Pointing out that the sea and the coast have been the habitat of the fishermen over the centuries, a visibly annoyed Pele said: “Our parents taught us the fishing techniques to eke out a livelihood. Why are the fishermen or the citizens forced to pay Rs 500 if they just go out fishing with a fishing rod for leisure or to eke a living.”
Incensed over the fishing rule, Pele has dared the 40 MLAs to join him for a swimming competition in the Arabian Sea. His challenge is simple – He wants the MLAs to beat him in a swimming competition over a stretch of five kilometres in the sea. “If they beat and overtake me, I am ready to concede defeat and accept the new fishing rule. If the MLAs cannot reach the finishing line before me, they should pressurize the government to scrap the new rule and mete out justice to the people," he added.
While making a fervent plea to the Legislators to accept his swimming challenge, Pele cautioned that neither fishermen nor citizens will come to the sea for fishing either to eke a living or for leisure if the rule is not scrapped.
“I fail to understand why the government has to suddenly bring this rule or whether this is all part of making Goa a coal hub,” he wondered.
Further pointing out that Goans settled abroad prefer to go fishing with their fishing rods for leisure and sport, the fisherman wondered how can the government bring them under the scanner and enrich the treasury out of leisure and sport.
"We have a large number of Goans settled abroad. When they come down for holidays, many of them prefer to go out to the river banks and the seashores with fishing rods and traditional fishing gears," he said, adding the new rule will play spoilsport to the traditional fishing activity.
