CALANGUTE: Traditional fishermen from Calangute, Candolim and Nerul have extended their support to their counterparts who are fighting against use of LED lights on trawlers, bull trolleys and high-speed fishing vessels. They have urged the fisheries minister to ban these modern methods of fishing citing that it is a threat to the fish.
They said if no action is taken in this regard, the 22 unions from all over Goa, affiliated to the traditional fishermen, will go on a dharna with their families in front of the fisheries department on Monday. This was decided during a meeting held on Friday near the jetty at Baga.
The traditional fishermen pointed that due to use of above methods by trawlers, their catch has dropped to a considerable extent. They said several memorandums have been submitted to the government on the issue, and that they have also met the chief minister, but in vain.
Joaquim Mendes, a member of Goenchea Ramponkarancho Ekvott, speaking to this daily, said that the meeting was called to discuss the issue threadbare and fight the illegalities unitedly. He said because of use of LED lights and other methods, their business has been affected with the catch dropping day by day.
“Our unions have met the director of fisheries and the fisheries minister and apprised them of the problems. If no action is taken then we will hand over our boats to the fisheries department and stage a dharna in front of the fisheries department on Monday which is a deadline set by us.
Damacio Mendes, president of Nerul fishermen association, said that earlier trawlers used to go deep sea fishing for 10 to 15 days but now with the illegal use of LED lights the trawlers come back every day with tonnes of fish. This illegal method, he said is used by 25 per cent of the trawlers and because of it the remaining 75 per cent go without any catch. He said the small fish get affected due to the intensity of the LED lights and that such lights are from China which are banned in other countries.
Joao Fernandes, a fisherman from Calangute, said that “after almost two months I ventured into the sea for a catch and managed to get only Rs 4000 worth fish, which is hardly anything. When Matanhy Saldanha was alive our subsidy was Rs 50,000 but now it has been reduced to Rs 36,000.”
Ronnie Fernandes, president of Calangute fishermen association, said that there are more than 1000 fishermen in Calangute, Candolim and Nerul who depend on traditional ways of fishing. “For the last 4 months we have been out of business. Our members have obtained loans from banks and if no action is taken against LED lights our livelihood will be at stake.”