Malpe Trawlers continue to plunder Goan fish resource, 'terrorism' say local fishermen

A dangerous high speed chase ends without success since the Coastal Police do not have boats to detain the huge trawlers

A fleeing Malpe trawler from Kerim coast, with a powerful 750 BHP engineHerald Pic

Published on:

07 Oct 2024, 2:59 pm

PERNEM: In another dramatic high speed chase, brave Goan fishermen, along with Coastal Police and Fisheries staff on their boats chased a Malpe trawler, on Sunday. The trawler was plundering Goan fish resources within 20 nautical miles of Goan coast, off Kerim Beach, in Pernem.

Goan fishermen risk their life in a daily basis trying to stop powerful and huge Maple trawlers. In the process the danger of an accident while chasing, is always a high possibility. Secondly, such chases are dangerous since the Malpe fishermen carry weapons, including guns, which can lead to serious casualty for Goan fishermen. With all the efforts of the local fishermen, coastal police and fisheries department, the Malpe trawler got away.

“This an act of terrorism by Malpe boats, as Malpe boats didn't stop even after the high speed chase by fisheries department and coastal police. We had four policemen on board and two of them were armed. Even when warning was given to Malpe trawlers, they did not stop. They drove in a zig zag manner to create wave so that our boat could not get close to them. They use powerful 750 HP engines and got away. We are no match for them,”

A Kerim fishermen

On Saturday, 5^th October, two Malpe trawlers were caught, in a joint operation of the local fishermen, Coastal Police and Fisheries Department. The trawlers were fishing within 10 nautical miles between Vasco Coast and Bat Island. They were part of a huge fleet of 50 trawlers fishing in Goan waters. The other trawlers got away.

The two trawlers that were caught had 20 tons of fish. Despite of all this, the trawlers continue to plunder Goan fish resources within 20 nautical miles of Goan coast on a daily basis, threatening the livelihoods of Goan fishermen.

Even in Karnataka itself, the trawlers are not allowed to fish within 20 nautical miles by the Karnataka government which has strict enforcement. However in Goa since the Fisheries department and the coastal do not have powerful boats, the Malpe trawlers know the weakness and indulge in bull trawling within 20 nautical miles thus destroying our fishing resources.