AUGUSTO RODRIGUES
BENAULIM: The story of big fish eating the small is playing in Goan waters.
Traditional fishermen of Goa are feeling gobbled by Government neglect and the might of mechanised boat owners and believe that the claim of stopping ‘rogue’ trawlers from Malpe intruding and patrolling the coast intensively is just a minor eyewash.
“Patrol boats are essential, but not the solution. The problem is the government does not care and is therefore not capable of protecting our interests. We have been complaining since the last five years and there has been no action,” says Jose Fernandes, President of Kharvi Bhavancho Ekvott (KBE) as he takes time off from a rehearsal, he is directing.
“These trawlers from Malpe are huge and they are prohibited from fishing outside their jurisdiction in their own State and yet they fish into our water with impunity because they know, we the local fishermen are not cared for by our own government,” reasons Fernandes.
“The government is with the fishermen but the problem is that we do not have sufficient patrol boats and a dedicated team to monitor such intrusions. The Government constituted a team on Tuesday and it is in force now,” assured Nilkanth Halarnkar, Minister of Fisheries.
The new Director of Fisheries, Yashaswini B admits, “One vessel is under repairs, the other does not have the horsepower (HP) to deter errant boats and that the fishermen should give the department leeway to start sailing again.”
Information accessed indicates that the Government of Goa has three patrol boats - two with the Fisheries Department and one with the Coastal Security Police and two are under repairs.
The boat with the Coastal Police is under repairs along with the Fisheries Department vessel Ave Maria, for which rupees Rs 37.75 lakh was sanctioned.
Fisheries Minister Halarnakar emphasised that, “the government is going to be requested to earmark more funds, for the purchase of patrol boats, during the forthcoming budget and would in the meanwhile work in tandem with the Coastal Police.”
“Our patrol boat is undergoing repairs at the docks and it will take four or five days to be back at sea. We have offered to send our staff to accompany the patrol boats of the Fisheries Department in the mean while,” assured Narvekar, Deputy Superintendent of Coastal Police.
“We patrol all over Goa, but at times moving from North to South becomes a problem because of the time it takes to reach from one place to another. Our boats do not have the power,” explained Narvekar.
“On one hand, the Minister says a dedicated team has been set and it is also apparent that patrol boats need to be procured. In the case going on the High Court, former Fisheries Director claimed that DG sets were required to be in trawlers when it is clear that 150 flats can be electrified with 150 KVA generators,” Fernandes said sarcastically.
“To catch trawlers from Maple, we need boats of 650 to 700 HP because they use powerful trawlers. Why is the government trying to pass the buck instead of addressing the core – the lack of care for us,” wondered Fernandes.
Watching his canoe go to sea to throw in the net, owner Wilson Mascarenhas from Benaulim is disillusioned. “We Goans suffer from a crab mentality. We cannot see others do well and this is exploited by fishermen from other States. Because we are small, the government thinks we can be trampled.”