Frustrated by authorities consistently ignoring their repeated complaints about trawlers using LED lights for fishing in prohibited waters, traditional fishermen have resorted to using drones to gather evidence of such illegal activities.
O Heraldo reported that drone footage, comprising videos and photographs, captured a trawler off the coast of Baina equipped with LED lights on all sides, engaged in what is known as LED fishing. The traditional fishermen asserted that LED fishing was taking place across the State, from the coast of Arambol to Canacona. They expressed dismay that large trawlers were depleting the sea of fish, leading nearly 90% of traditional fishermen to abandon their fishing activities.
The fishermen highlighted that the Union Fishing Ministry had prohibited the use of LED lights for fishing in 2017, among other regulations, but trawler owners were violating these rules.