To protest against the failure of the State government to take action against the unnatural way of fishing, including using LED lights, China engine trawlers and bull trawling, hundreds of traditional fishermen from across Goa have decided to give up their fishing occupation by surrendering their canoes/boats, fishing nets and other fishing machineries/equipments before the Fisheries Dept in Panjim and other offices in south Goa on Wednesday. The decision was taken at a joint meeting called by Goenchea Ramponkarancho Ekvott (GRE), which was attended by a large number of traditional fishermen from North and South Goa at Cansaulim on Monday. According to GRE president Agnelo Rodrigues, the members of all 13 traditional fishermen associations have decided to give up their traditional fishing occupation on Wednesday because the State government was irresponsive towards their genuine demands. The fishing industry in Goa is one of the few industries that are totally Goan-oriented, but the same is on the brink of disaster due to the unnatural fishing techniques used by some rich trawler owners from Goa. There is already less catch for the canoe owners and ramponkars at sea, and despite our repeated requests, the State Fisheries Department, Fisheries Minister Avertano Furtado as well as Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar gave only assurances but failed to come out with a concrete decision and ban the use of LED lights and other unnatural ways of fishing, leaving the traditional people of Goa, who are engaged in fishing activities for generations, to automatically go out of business. As there has been no response from the government, we have decided to give up our business by surrendering our canoes/boats and other machineries before the Fisheries Department, and our family members will sit in the department office until our demands are met, he said. GRE joint general secy Olencio Simoes stated, The Fisheries Dept possibly has some vested interest, and therefore, they don’t want to act against LED lights and other unnatural fishing methods used by trawlers owners from Goa. Our interest is to protect the fish and fish-eaters. If such unnatural fishing is not banned, then fish-eaters will get fish at higher rates. I appeal to all traditional fishermen to come out in large numbers to Panjim on Wednesday. and support out protest, which will stop only after our demands are met.
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