As the year comes to a close, Goa’s fishing community has voiced growing discontent with the State government, accusing it of tokenism – neglecting their pressing concerns and failing to honour long standing commitments. As small-scale fishers grapple with rising fuel costs, inadequate subsidies, and enforcement lapses, their calls for support have become increasingly urgent.
Demand for fuel subsidy and financial aid
Traditional fisherfolk have persistently demanded increased fuel subsidies and other essential facilities. The rising cost of fuel has placed an immense financial strain on these modest communities, compelling them to allocate a large chunk of their limited earnings towards operating their boats. This burden has made it challenging for fishers to sustain their livelihoods and care for their families.
The All Goa Small Scale Responsible Fisheries’
Union (AGSSRFU) recently submitted a representation to Fisheries Minister Nilkanth Halarnkar, urging the government to address delays in fuel subsidies and increase the subsidy amount.
AGSSRFU President Shaila D’mello has requested immediate clearance of the backlog and an increase in the subsidy amount from Rs 30,000 to Rs 75,000 per canoe, highlighting the reduction from Rs 50,000 during the Covid-19 pandemic. “Fishing communities struggled immensely during the pandemic, yet the subsidy was slashed and remains unchanged. We demand its restoration and enhancement to Rs 75,000,” added Union Secretary Laximan Mangueshkar.
Call to ban destructive fishing practices
GRE has also reiterated the need to ban destructive fishing methods, such as bull trawling and fishing using LED lights. “The use of destructive gear, like bull trawling and LED lights, has devastated marine ecosystems and nursing grounds for fish species. Despite long- standing demands, these practices continue unchecked,” Simoes added.
Agnelo Rodrigues, GRE President, emphasised the lack of enforcement. “There are boats using illegal fishing equipment and carrying out illegal bull trawling in Goa’s territorial waters using high-speed engines. The coastal police in Goa need more patrol boats or repairs/replacement of the existing patrol boats that they have.”
Organisations like GRE and AGSSRFU have joined the NFF in warning that the continued neglect of these issues could lead to severe consequences. They fear a future where fish stocks are depleted, and traditional fishing communities suffer irreparable harm.
Boat maintenance woes and turf wars
The lack of support for boat repairs has further worsened their plight. Many traditional fishing boats, passed down through generations, require regular maintenance. Without adequate assistance, fishermen find it increasingly difficult to keep their vessels seaworthy, further straining their financial stability.
Adding to their woes, the fishing community has expressed anger over violations of the Supreme Court order prohibiting mechanised trawlers within five nautical miles of the coast. Despite the ban, enforcement by the Fisheries Department remains weak, they allege.
Goenchea Ramponkarancho Ekvott (GRE) has reported frequent incursions by illegal boats from Karnataka’s Malpe region into Goa’s territorial waters. “Even when local fishermen apprehend these illegal boats and inform the authorities, soon after that more illegal boats come into Goa’s waters illegally. This negligence from the authorities allows illegal fishing to continue unabated,” said Olencio Simoes, GRE General Secretary.
Infrastructure and insurance demands
Recurring adverse weather conditions have compounded the fishing community’s troubles, with cyclonic winds often damaging or washing away their equipment. GRE has demanded an insurance policy to protect fishermen’s equipment, including canoes, motors, and nets.
Meanwhile, boat owners at Betul also lamented the delay in constructing the much-needed breakwater facility at the mouth of River Sal, given the navigational challenges faced by the trawlers due to the sandbar that blocks their access to the sea and back to the jetty. This demand has been taken up time and again by the Cutbona boat owners with the government, with the Chief Minister recently assuring to expedite work on this matter.
Protection through policy and compensation
The National Fishworkers Forum (NFF) has emphasised the need for a Fisher’s Rights Act akin to legislations that protect Adivasis, as well as the creation of policies at both the National and State levels modelled after agriculture and textile policies. Such measures, they argue, are essential to safeguarding the traditional fishing community’s interests and ensuring their long-term sustainability.
NFF has also called for the regularisation of fishermen’s houses under the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) notification and demanded that the Union government provide a livelihood compensatory sum of Rs 20,000 for each fisherman during periods when they are restricted from venturing into the sea, such as the monsoon fishing ban.
These demands, coupled with the need for interest-free loans similar to those offered to farmers, reflect a pressing need for targeted interventions to support fishing families who have been carrying out this livelihood for generations.