Karnataka - Mangalore   

NFF keen to rope in fishermen from Goa

Special Correspondent

`There are different rules in the coastal States of the country. This is depriving fishermen of their share of growth despite the sector making a contribution to foreign exchange'

MANGALORE: The National Fishworkers' Federation (NFF), the apex body of fishermen, held talks with the Goan Cooperative Fishermen's Federation recently in a bid to rope them into the federation.

National Secretary of the NFF and Coastal Karnataka Fishermen Action Committee Vasudeva Boloor is hopeful that the fishermen from Goa will join the organisation.

Speaking to The Hindu here on Thursday, Mr. Boloor said that the Goan Fishermen's Cooperation Federation has shown interest in having a strong federation at the National level while keeping the local federation active.

President of the federation Victor Gonsalves has already initiated talks with the fishermen's association in Goa, and the second round of talks between the Goan federation with leaders of the NFF will take place soon, Mr. Boloor said.

Outlining the need for unity among the fishermen in the country, Mr. Boloor said that there are different rules in the coastal States of the country. He said that this is depriving the fishermen of their share of growth despite the fisheries sector making a big contribution in foreign exchange.

Independent body

A strong and independent representative of fishermen will help them bargain to get their due, particularly social programmes and upliftment of fishermen from backward classes.

Mr. Boloor said fishermen in Goa have shown restraint during various inter-State disputes over fishing rights and they will be an asset to the federation if their State body ratifies their decision to join the national organisation. The first meeting of the federation, which was attended by President of the Action Committee P.M. Tandel, passed a resolution to start accommodating fishermen from Goa in the federation.

The fishermen have urged NFF to bring pressure on the Union Government to stop issuing licences to foreign fishing trawlers and provide a subsidy on diesel used by fishing vessels.

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