The ill-effects of tourism in the form of garbage are felt by Nerul fishermen as tourists visiting casinos and going on dolphin trips at Sinquerim throw plastic and empty bottles into the sea, which during the monsoon gets washed along the Coco beach. NERUL: The garbage menace at Coco beach, Nerul has reached an alarming rate making it unsuitable for traditional fishing activities. According to Nerul villagers, the garbage has washed ashore over the past few days. Speaking to The Navhind Times’, a group of fishermen said that more garbage is buried under the sand. They felt that the garbage has been thrown into the Coco beach waters by some unknown persons resulting in the waste being washed ashore. Morning walkers along the beach are missing their regular exercises as the shore is littered with all kinds of trash and muck following the downpour. It is simply not possible to walk along the beach without stepping on a broken piece of glass or garbage, said a Nerul resident. The ill-effects of tourism in the form of garbage are felt by the Nerul fishermen who are in troubled waters’ as tourists visiting casinos and going on dolphin trips at Sinquerim throw plastic and empty bottles into the sea, which during the monsoon gets washed along the Coco beach. Tonnes of garbage in the form of plastic and broken bottles get entangled in the fishing net of traditional fishermen who rely entirely on fishing activities on the beach. Coco beach happens to be the only place in Goa where fishing activities are carried out 365 days in a year. Nearly 70 per cent of villagers are involved in fishing occupation. There are more than 200 locals involved in fishing activities at the beach. 10 per cent of the beach is given for water sports. According to a fisherman at the Coco beach, fishing is carried out using traditional methods even during the fishing ban period. Nerul happens to be the main supplier of fish during the monsoon season at Mapusa, Calangute, Verem fish markets. Nerul is also known for its tisreos and mullets but the sea food from the village is slowly dying a slow death due to the water sports activities at Sinquerim creek. It is learnt that even mullets are getting affected due to the garbage which is affecting their breeding. Nerul fishermen have alleged that they have been facing the onslaught of garbage for the past four years. But this year happens to be the worst they have ever experienced. Joaquim Mendes, member of Goenchea Ramponcarancho Ekvott said that the sound generated by the water sports boats disturbs the fish and they tend to move away from the area. If this happens, traditional fishermen will be affected as there will be no fish to catch along the coast, he said. Mendes further said that garbage all along the Coco beach is causing a major problem to traditional fishing activities. He said that they are not against tourism but the government should also think about the fishermen who toil in the sea to make a humble living. A traditional fisherman said, For generations we have been carrying out fishing at Coco beach. However, now the high-speed boats are a threat to our activities. Marshal Camilo, a fisherman from Nerul, said that the garbage gets entangled in their nets and a lot of time is wasted in separating the fish and garbage. Camilo further said that the garbage is left on the beach and is not cleared by the authorities. He said that during the low tide the waves carry the garbage into the sea and during the high tide it resurfaces on the shore. Francis Fernandes a fisherman said that there are 12 groups of ramponkars at Nerul. He said that they have an understanding among themselves and follow a lottery system as all 12 groups of ramponkars do not venture into the sea at one time. He said, first 25 fishermen are involved in fishing activities and later followed by different groups in small numbers. Fernandes said, We pay our workers Rs 300 per day and at times we do not get any catch. The garbage on the shore is a major problem as it is a threat to our livelihood. Nerul sarpanch Shashikala Govekar said that she was not aware of the garbage at Coco beach. Govekar said that she will take up the issue with the authorities as she is also into the fishing business. The sarpanch said that she has cleared a file of installing a high mast at Coco beach.
www.navhindtimes.in 2011