Call to revoke permissions to navigate water sports/tourism canoes in Sinquerim River from June 01 to August 31

03/06/2025

To,

Captain of Ports,

Government of Goa, 

Panaji, Goa

Subject: Call to revoke permissions to navigate water sports/tourism canoes in Sinquerim River from June 01 to August 31 

Sir,

This is to follow-up of  letter from All Goa Small Scale Responsible Fisheries Union (AGSSRFU) dated 28/05/2025 inwarded to your office on the same date with subject "call to cease all water sports/tourism canoes operations in Sinquerim river from June 01 to August 31".

Subsequently we got a phone call from your office to remain present for the personal hearing on 30/05/2025 at 15.00 hours. In obedience to the telephonic message delegation from AGSSRFU was present at the personal hearing held at the office Captain of Ports.

Inspite of personal hearing and your assurance to protect fishing interests in Sinquerim river water sports/tourism canoes with PNJ registration began their operations on 01 June 2025 thereby disrupting fish spawning season and fishing based livelihoods that Sinquerim river historically supported local fishing communities in Sinquerim, Candolim  Nerul etc till these canoes began disrupting stable self-sustaining local Fisheries three years ago.

We have on record verified information that your office has permitted these canoes to deploy 40 HP outboard motors mandatory. Few canoes operate with 40 HP outboard motors few with deceptive stickers of these motors are of 09 HP capacity. 

At the said personal hearing with Captain of Ports when this issues was brought up by one of the fisher from Candolim who is also member of AGSSRFU you counter questioned him rudely "Are you questing my decision"? AGSSRFU holds that bad decision needs to be questioned and you have no basis to behave rudely. Questioning is important aspect of healthy democratic practices and kindly introspect your conduct and behaviour towards fishing communities. 

Your decision to outsource dispute resolution to Olencio Simoes is not respected as Water Sports/Tourim canoes has resumed their highly objectionable disruptive activities in Sinquerim river from June 01, 2025 morning itself to the detriment of the Fisheries based livelihoods of the local fishermen and their families. 

We wish to bring to your attention the text of section 8 of gazette (extraordinary 3) notification no. B 14022/WS/Special Permissions/COP dated 7th July 2023 as follow:

"Captain of Ports reserves the right to grant or deny the NOC's in case of congestion, local fishermen problems, safety of navigation and may be revoked without assigning any reasons thereof".

You are therefore requested to invoke above section 8 of Gazette (extraordinary 3) notification no. B 14022/WS/Special Permissions/COP dated 7th July 2023 and revoke all the Permissions to operate water sports/tourism canoes in Sinquerim river for the months of June to August with immidiate effect on the ground of local fishermen facing problems due to water sports/tourim canoes navigating in Sinquerim river for the months of June to August.

Please note that your office will be held accountable and responsible for all the negative consequences flowing out of your decision to support water sports/tourism canoes against fishing based livelihoods so far.

We expect you to act to revoke the said permisions swiftly without any further delay and avoid situations may lead to unpredictable scenarios.

We communicate this to you with instructions from our Union members located in Sinquerim-Candolim-Nerul coastal belt received and dicussed at the AGSSRFU executive meeting held on 01/06/2025.

Thanking you.

Yours Truly,

Shaila D'mello

President

Laximan Mangueshkar 

Secretary

Copy to

1. Director of Fisheries, Government of Goa, Panaji, Goa

2. Director of Tourism, 

Government of Goa,

Panaji, Goa

 

3. President, Kandollchea Kharveancho Ekvott, 

937, Camotim Vaddo,

Candolim, Bardez, Goa

4. The President,

Traditional Fishermen's Association of North Goa

1611/46, Voilo Vaddo, Orda, Candolim, Bardez, Goa