Fisheries Minister Avertano Furtado, on Tuesday, informed State Legislative Assembly that the purse seine boats using light-emitting diode (LED) lights for fishing are permitted to fish beyond 12 nautical miles, which is the boundary of jurisdiction for state. Responding to the queries of the legislators over government’s stand on the use of LED lights-backed fishing method Furtado informed the House that the ban on LED lights is enforced in extension to the already existing ban on night fishing within the state’s territorial waters. There is no problem if they go beyond 12 nautical miles for fishing. We have put only two conditions on them. One they have to submit an affidavit stating that they would not fish in state waters. And, they should install trackers so that we are able to verify their location of fishing, he told the House. He further said that the while the ban was implemented, the department’s patrolling staff reported that the purse seine trawlers with LED lights were fishing beyond the state waters, between 15 and 25 nautical miles. However, stating that the department had not permitted the trawlers to carry the LED lights and the generators, Velim MLA Benjamin Silva said that the government should clarify the notification that was issued to ban the LED-backed fishing. Meanwhile, Calangute MLA Michael Lobo demanded that the minister should tender an apology to the traditional fishermen who were allegedly lathicharged by the police during their peaceful demonstration against the LED-backed fishing on May 12. Furtado responded, I would apologise if the demand came from the traditional fishermen. He further informed the House that the department would procure five more mobile fish vans to sell fish at cheaper price. He said that the vans would be provided in the constituencies represented by Nilesh Cabral (Curchorem), Dr Pramod Sawant (Sanquelim), Rajan Naik (Cuncolim) and Ganesh Gaonkar (Sanvordem). The department would procure more vans if there is a demand and provide at other places, he added.
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