The Goenchea Raponkarancho Ekvott (GRE), a collective of Goa's traditional fishermen, has written to the directorate of fisheries along with six other fishermen's associations seeking immediate action against illegal bull-trawling by Malpe trawlers and LED fishing by Goa trawlers on Friday.
Olencio Simoes, general secretary of GRE, said rampant use of destructive gears have destroyed many species of fish and marine ecosystem. "Bull or pair trawling and continues the use of LED lights in regional waters and Indian special zones equipped with generators without fear of law or government and used by a handful of such purse-scene owners."
He further said that illegal bull trawling by fishing boats from Malpe in Karnataka are constantly entering the territorial waters of Goa using high-speed engines that catch all the fish through the illegal bull trawling method. "Even after the local fishermen caught the illegal boats and brought them to the notice of the fisheries department. They are entering the state without fear of the law, which is a matter of great embarrassment," he said.
Agnelo Rodrigues, president of GRE, said that illegal LED light fishing had started earlier this season to add to our problems and if it illegal method continues to be used, we will be on the verge of extinction of wild fisheries. "Goa will soon become like Norway, Denmark, Oman, New Zealand, Australia etc where such destructive gears had brought the fishing to a standstill," he said.
Rodrigues also accused the fisheries department of not taking action against Miguel Rodrigues (Joaquins), who first used destructive technology that has been banned worldwide with all members of the All Goa Purse Seine Boat Owners' Association (AGPBOA). "They are openly violating the ban and are using high-powered China engines with a capacity of more than 700 hp, illegal large size boats without VRC, net, sonar fishing and other illegal gears to catch fish in regional waters," he said.
He further said that the department should take immediate action otherwise the state government and the fisheries department would be held responsible for any impropriety.