Traditional fishermen in Goa, India, are sounding the alarm about a significant decline in this year’s catch, attributing it to the intrusion of trawlers from Maharashtra and Karnataka into Goan waters. According to them, these trawlers are depriving local fishermen of their livelihood by sweeping up the majority of the catch, leaving them with meagre returns of around 4000 Rupees despite previously yielding substantial catches within a mere three-hour span.
Expressing their dismay, fishermen have highlighted the alarming sight of 30 to 40 trawlers from neighbouring states plundering their fishing grounds. Despite lodging numerous complaints, they lament the authorities’ apathy, citing delayed responses from coastal police and fisheries department officials, who often arrive too late to intervene effectively. This delay, they clarify, isn’t solely due to the inefficiency of law enforcement but also because they lack adequate resources, such as boats, to address such infractions.
Fishermen have appealed to the Chief Minister for urgent action, advocating for the provision of at least five boats to the coastal police to enhance their capacity to enforce regulations effectively.
They stress that failure to address the rampant intrusion of trawlers jeopardizes not only their traditional fishing practices but also undermines local livelihoods that have been sustained for generations.
In their plea to the government, fishermen underscore the urgency of safeguarding age-old local businesses from the encroachment of external interests, emphasizing the need for decisive measures to curb the disruptive activities of these trawlers and ensure the sustainability of traditional fishing practices in Goan waters.