Measures required to halt illegal mechanised Fishing

Measures required to stop illegal mechanised fishing within specified area on permanent manner:

1. Patrol boat must be stationed at Dona Paula. Keeping it at Vasco puts its staff under influence of mechanised fishing lobby.

2. Night patrolling is not existing from Fisheries department. Mechanised fishing is ongoing in Zuari river at least five trawlers during night time after 10.30 pm.

3. Fisheries Control room phone number is often off the hook or non responsive during night time. On occasions when calls are answered no Patrol boats are dispatched to nab the offenders. Staff of Fisheries department responsible to operate patrol boat are absent. They have no duty allocated during night time. Night staff must be introduced on Patrol boat.

4. Records of those those booked for illegal fishing must be released in public domain every fortnight including on website of the Fisheries department 

5. Regular committee to review illegal mechanised fishing be set up consisting of Fisheries department, Captain of Ports, Coastal Security Police and the two representatives of the Petitioner (All Goa Small Scale Responsible Fisheries Union) duly authorised by the General Body. Review committee must be bestowed with responsibility and powers to review and suggest additional measures required to curtail mechanised fishing.

6. According to the Goa marine fishing law mechanised fishing cannot be done upto 5 kms from the coast, let alone inside the Zuari estuary. This should be made known to all concerned by the government.

7. Punishments - fines and cancellation of licence should be there.

8. Records for complaints - written or verbal, phone or message - should be kept. Staff responsible for  unattended complaints should also be punishable.