The Goa Fishing Boat Owners Association (GFBOA) have raised a strong objection over illegal fishing activities carried out by some fishing community members with the help of motorboats in deep sea. Speaking to the media in Vasco on Monday, GFBOA president Augostino Fernandes said that during the last couple of days it has been observed that some fishing community members with the help of their motorboats bring ashore large amount of fish including those of mackerels and even solar prawns, thereby selling the same at cheaper rates in the market. Despite imposing a uniform ban for 61 days on fishing activity, some fishing community members are violating the law, stated Fernandes. As the ban imposed by the state government, should be uniform, without any discrimination, added Fernandes. He disclosed that there is no proper surveillance by the fisheries department due to which illegal fishing activities are sprouting. The GFBOA members are condemning the illegal fishing activity which is on rise in the deep sea, stated Fernandes and demanded that the fisheries department must keep a surveillance at sea in order to stop illegal fishing activities which is being carried out on a large scale by some fishing community members by using motorboats. Former GFBOA president Sydney Furtado has informed that The ban imposed by the state government on fishing should be followed by all fishermen. It is a breeding time for fish during the ban period and therefore all fishermen in the state are advised not to venture into the sea, added Furtado and further opined that despite following the rules framed by the state government, some fishing community members (without mentioning the name and the association) venture into the deep sea and bring a large catch of fish. The fishing carried out during the ban period is illegal and therefore the state government should instruct the director of fisheries to implement the total ban on all kinds of fishing involved for those traditional fishermen who use motorboats, added Furtado.
www.navhindtimes.in 2011