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Row over fishing in Goan waters

By Our Staff Correspondent

PANAJI, JULY 14. Members of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly on Wednesday expressed concern over the reported fishing in Goa seawaters by motorised boats from Karwar in Karnataka. They urged the Government to take steps in this regard.

Raising the issue during the Zero Hour, the Cuncolim MLA, Joaquim Alemao, said the "illegal" fishing not only deprived Goan fishermen of their share but also violated the ban on fishing during the monsoon. He disclosed that some Goan fishermen were also venturing into the sea on motorised boats flouting the ban. Pooh-poohing the claim of the Government that it was effectively enforcing the ban on fishing through the Coast Guard and the Fisheries Department, Mr. Alemao said many fishermen were flouting this ban. The St. Cruz MLA, Victoria Fernandes, joined issue with him.

The Chief Minister, Manohar Parrikar, assured the House that steps would be taken to stop the violation of the fishing ban as well as the intrusion of fishermen from the neighbouring State. He said that besides requesting the Coast Guard to curb such illegal fishing, a vessel from the Fisheries Department would be deputed to curb the violations. When the Opposition members demanded a detailed discussion on the matter, the Speaker, Vishwas Satarkar, said a debate could not be allowed during the Zero Hour without prior notice. It could be held on Thursday.

What triggered the furore was a report in a local daily that about 75 motorised boats from Karwar were engaged in fishing off the Polem Beach in South Goa since four days. It further said that the boats went up to the Talpona coast and the catch consisted of solar shrimps, pomfrets, mackerels, sharks, and other varieties of fish.

The catch would be offloaded at remote places in Karwar, it added.

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