Team Herald
MARGAO: The Norway trip by Goa’s Fisheries Minister Nilkanth Halarnkar, Director Shamila Monteiro, the OSD to the Minister Prathamesh Tulaskar and a team of private fisheries has raised eyebrows over the government’s priorities and lack of support for local fishing community in the State.
The National Fishworkers Forum has criticised the government for spending money on the trip by ignoring the need for subsidies and infrastructure improvements for traditional fishermen, while Goenchea Ramponkarancho Ekvott has demanded the resignation of the Fisheries Director for inaction against illegal fishing practices and allowing LED fishing despite a case in High Court and a ban by the state government.
The Cutbona Boat Owners’ Union has sought clarification on whether the government paid for the trip, including families of boat owners.
It questioned if the tour was connected to plans to privatise the Cortalim jetty.
Olencio Simoes, General Secretary, National Fishworkers Forum (NFF) said, “The Norway trip has raised more questions and the government appears to be short of answers. Firstly, Norway has very stringent rules when it comes to fishing. This covers even the size of the fish, type of fish and has varying fishing ban periods. Is the department planning to implement any of this here in Goa? Secondly, the government does not have money for subsidies for both the boat owners and traditional fishermen. We have been asking for an increase in subsidy for years now and these appeals are with the government. So how can they have the money for this trip? What about improving the overall infrastructure for the fishing sector? The government has money for Norway but not for this? Or is all this only for private benefit?”
“The Norway trip clearly shows how the Fisheries Department is favouring that type of trawler owners. For the last eight years, we have been asking the Fisheries Department to take action against the use of LED lights, bull trawling, high-speed engines and other types of illegal fishing and gears. What action has the department taken against them so far. This inaction has led to the worst year in fishing as far as the catch is concerned. On the other hand, the department wants to allow these trawler owners to use generators, which are in the end used for LED fishing. There is no fear of the law and we can see why. Even while the matter is in the High Court, LED fishing is underway. The Fisheries Director must resign,” demanded Agnelo Rodrigues, President, Goenchea Raponkarancho Ekvott (GRE).
“First, we need clarification from the government if they paid for this Norway trip as some boat owners travelled with their families for this. Second, this tour was meant to study cage fishing and aquaculture. Can the Department clarify if the various fishing societies like there are at Cutbona, Vasco, Malim and Chapora were taken into confidence before this tour took place? Also, during the last Assembly session, the department confirmed in its reply about a proposal and plans to privatise the Cortalim jetty. Was this connected to Norway? Did the boat owners go to Norway to study the big boats that cannot come to Cutbona due to the draft issue but can come to Cortalim instead for loading and unloading activity? This would grant them a monopoly on exports,” said Savio Da Silva, former president of Cutbona Boat Owners’ Union.