The fisheries department has taken action against 54 fishing vessels, which were reportedly found to be involved in illegal fishing in or within five kilometres from the coast in the state. The government has withheld their subsidy. Releasing data through a press statement on Tuesday, Fisheries Minister Vinod Palyekar said that a total of 54 fishing vessels have been found so far which were involved in illegal fishing activity in or within 5 km from the coast. He said show-cause notices have been issued to them for violating the rules and added that the government has withheld their subsidy named The Goa Value Added Tax based on HSD oil consumed by fishing vessel.’ Palyekar said that the department conducts regular patrolling in the territorial waters of the state upto 12 nautical miles and in inland waters/rivers by using a 15-metre Glass Reinforced Plastic High Speed Patrol vessel and training vessel in order to report illegal fishing activities. The statement states that a total of 46 vessels fishing by using mini purse-seine net were found and their kerosene subsidy has been withheld. Of the total 54 vessels found fishing illegally within 5 km from the coast, a total of 31 were found involved in illegal fishing of Sinquerim and 23 off Cacra. The coastal police have submitted a report from April 2017 to September 2017 and according to it, 246 vessels ventured into the sea without ID cards while 47 vessels ventured into the sea without the required documents on board. Besides, 13 vessels were found fishing illegally within one nautical mile from the coast.