Union Fisheries Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh revealed in a written response that the Goa government has brought 10 cases against fishing boats from Karnataka in the 2022–24 timeframe, bringing up the ongoing threat of Karnataka fishing trawlers breaking into Goan waters in the Lok Sabha.
The total fines levied against these trawlers during that time period came to Rs 14.8 lakh. Illegal fishing has been a persistent problem, and the High Court of Bombay in Goa is currently considering the case. Local fisherman in Nerul, Bardez, assisted the Coastal Security Police in capturing and seizing two trawlers from Malpe, Karnataka, last month.
In his parliamentary response, the Union Fisheries Minister urged maritime states and Union Territories to take aggressive measures against fishing vessel infractions. These includes temporarily suspending vessel registrations or licenses, canceling registrations or licenses for repeat infractions, and instructing the Coast Guard and other marine enforcement agencies to obtain information on violators so that they can stop them from operating.