The fishing ban period is about to be imposed and this is usually a hectic time at the jetties but the bitter rift between stakeholders at the Cutbona jetty has created rough conditions that will impact the fishing industry even after the fishing ban is lifted. Traditionally, the end of the season signaled heightened activities as boat owners set out to get the best possible catch to help them pass through the dry fishing ban period. However, the last few weeks has seen multiple clashes at the jetty and a large presence of the government and police officials that boat owners say has affected how conducive business conditions are at the jetty. The issue of labour shortage at the jetty is expected to worsen with fears raised that the labour workforce won’t return to Cutbona after the ban, leaving the boat owners short staffed. Furthermore, the relations between the agents and middlemen have also hit an all time low. Finally, the main fear is that the haphazard manner in which the recent notification by the fisheries department was issued and the confusion surrounding its implementation, clashes are expected to continue when the next season begins. Commenting on the season gone by, traditional fisherman Pandhari Kerkar told Herald that the sea was full with a variety of fish but big boat owners who used the LED lights had spoiled the good catch and that despite the ban, trawlers are still using LED lights. Kerkar blamed the fisheries department for their negligence and lethargic attitude towards the implementation of the LED light ban and claimed that the fisheries department is closing their eyes towards illegalities going on at Cutbona. President of Cutbona Boat Owners Association, Savio D’Silva has blamed big boat owners for the mess in the fishing industry. He said that because of LED lights, big boat owners got a good catch. Small trawler owners and traditional fishermen are suffering because of LED lights. The government has banned the use of LED lights but some boat owners are still using them. The department must keep a strict vigil on these boat owners, said Savio.
M/s Herald Publications Pvt Ltd.