12th November 2025
To,
Dr. Pramod Sawant,
Chief Minister,
Government of Goa
To,
Shri Rajiv Ranjan Singh
Hon'ble Union Minister for Fisheries,
Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandary and Dairying, Government of India
Sir,
Welcome to Cacra, Goa on the launch of Climate resilent coastal fishermen village today.
We at All Goa Small Scale Responsible Fisheries Union (AGSSRFU) take this opportunity to appraise you of the context of Small Scale Fishery (SSF) in Goa:
I
This very river that we see is named Zuari. Central Government Institution Mormugao Port Trust (MPT) has leased out the very water space where Small scale fishers carry their fishing activities to set up two private marinas Nauxim and Sancoale. Draft EIA Report of AHOY Marina at Nauxim has even declared that it will have long term, negative and irreversible impact on fisheries in Zuari river. You are urged to intervened to canceled both these Marina projects in Zuari river as MPT (now MPA) is Central government institution under Ministry of Shipping, Ports and National Waterways.
II
Rivers in Goa play vital role in support of small scale fishing activities. However Central Government without consulting fishing communities of Goa has declared six rivers of Goa - Sal, Zuari, Cumbharjua, Mandovi, Moira/Mapusa and Chapora - as National Waterways. This decision has posed direct long term negative impacts on SSF. Riparian lands along these rivers comes under the jurisdiction of Inland Waterways Authority of India. You are urged to intervene to get Goa's rivers de-notified from National Waterways Act 2016.
III
Dharti Abha scheme of the Union Ministry of Tribal Affairs which is meant for Scheduled Caste Fishers is not extended to the tribal villages of Nauxim, Bambolim, Cacra, Odxel even though these are Scheduled Tribe populated villages. You are urged to intervened in the matter positively. Even though Union Tribal Affairs Ministry has been communicated to in this regard there is no response received.
IV
Inclusion of MPT under the scope of Major Ports Authorities Act 2021 has created sense of insecurity of SSF as Coastal villages as well as water fronts are declared within "Port limits". Ports limits has its its ways in CZMP maps too. Mormugao Port Authority (MPA) has directly claimed its jurisdiction upto Cortalim-Agacaim bridge in zuari river and upto Betul in South Goa thereby causing long term threats to SSF activities. There are suspicions that this will further pave way towards transforming Goa into Coal Hub. You are urged to intervene to exclude MPA from the scope of Major Ports Authorities Act 2021.
V
Illegal Sand mining and installation of casino gambling vessels has disrupted fishing activities in Mandovi river. Verem fishers had to directly confront casino invadion of their fishing spaces twice in last month of October 2025. You are requested to take note of this.
VI
Central Government has permitted operation of Tourism passenger boats under Inland Vessels Act in Goa's rivers. These boats has disrupted fishing activities in Sinquerim river in north Goa and Sal river in South Goa. These are admistered through Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI). You are requested take note of this situation and intervene positively in defence of SSF of Goa.
VII
Central Government has banned fishing by use of Light Emitting Diode (LED). However ban continues to be violated across Goa's coast by mechanised fishing boats even within 05 kms from the shore at night. LED Fishing along with Bull Trawling has triggered massive depletion of fish at Sea with negative impacts to the entire SSF communities in Goa. Illegal mechanised fishing is going on by mechased trawlers and purse seine boats within 05 kms of the shore from Pernem to Canacona. It happen even in Zuari river and we had to knock the doors of Goa Bench of Bombay High Court in this regard. 5 kms space needs to be demarcated with buoyancy floaters in Arabian Sea. You are requested to pay special attention to this situation as it is directly concerned with Ministry of Fisheries.
VIII
River Sal in South Goa is very important in terms of providing livelihoods to thousands of people including hundreds of women engaged in various types of fishing based livelihoods. This river is facing various dangers and needs urgent attention. The was dredged few years ago. Pollution is threatening Fisheries. Hyacinths aquatic plant species has invaded water space of fishers. Mangroves has extended towards the middle of the river in various spots reducing fishing spaces. Trawlers allowed to dock inside the river in Assolna-Cavelossim stretch has created hurdles for gillnet fishing. Water sports in this river is a source of constant disturbance to SSF. Industrial Aquaculture farms in traditional salt pans on the river Bank release the chemical water into Sal river. Chemicals affects fish in the river and injuries are observed on river fish. You are requested to note this Sal river situation and intervene positively.
IX
Canacona in South of Goa has formidable problems to hard working fishers. Saleri river has silted and river has turned non-navigable for fishing cannoes during low tide. As a result fishing time has reduced drastically and fishers are deeply troubled. Authorities don't pay any attention to their woes. You are requested to intervene positively in this matter.
X
Ports are not just threatening lives, livelihoods and lifestyles of coastal people at Kasarkod, Honnavar and Keni, Ankola in Uttar Kanada. It is happening in Goa too. There are constant threats to occupation, houses and land adjacent to MPA in Vasco and Nauxim in Tiswadi. Fishers are compelled to approach Court of Law time and again. You are requested note this situation minutely.
XI
Tourism promotion projects on many occasions has come to demote and disrupt fishing activities of SSF. Last National Games water sports held in Goa prevented fishers on Vaiginim Beach from entering Zuari river for 21 days without any compensation. Two weeks ago it was repeated at Caranzalem Beach when Oceanman swimming event was forced inside Ramponn, traditional beach seine. Fishers resisted. Attempts were made to declare beaches at Miramar, Siridao, Velsao as Blue Flag Beaches exclusive for tourists. Fishers resisted. Tourism has led to mushrooming of hotels on the river banks. Hotel Grand Hyatt is carrying on constructions inside the waters of Zuari river. Several Hotels are constructed on the river banks and sewage released directly into river waters. Tourism led urbanization has led to dumping of waste including plastics and raw sewage directly into rivers. Fishing nets often catch more plastics than fish. Tourists choose to get drunk on beaches and break glass liquour bottles leaving glass pieces in sand. You are urged to pay attention to this situation too.
XII
Above cited anthropogenic factors combined with climate change creates detrimental consequences to fishers. Everytime there is excess rainfall Goa's dams are opened loose to let water go. This massive water flow gets iron ore mining silt and industrial waste into rivers. Pollution of water makes fish dissappear for nearly a month in places like Vanxem, Lotoulim.
There are lot more issues confronting small scale fishers in Goa. Let's start by tackling the above issues on priority.
We once again thank you for choosing Cacra for this scheme under PMSSY. We hope with certainty that our resilience capacity will be strengthen.
Yours Truly,
Shaila D'mello
President
Laximan Mangueshkar
Secretary
Dr. Sebastiao Rodrigues
General Secretary,
National Federation of Small-Scale Fishworkers (NFSF)
Copy to
1. Shri Nilkant Halarnkar, Fisheries Minister, Government of Goa
2. Dr. Abhilaksh Likhi, Secretary (Fisheries), Government of India,
3. Ms. Neetu K. Prasad, Joint Secretary (Marine Fisheries), Government of India.
4. Shri. Rodolfo Fernandes, MLA, Santa Cruz constituency
5. Smt. Jennifer Montserrat, MLA, Talegao constituency
6. Shri. Prasanna Acharya, Secretary (Fisheries), Government of Goa
7. Dr. Shamila Monteiro, Director of Fisheries, Government of Goa
8. Smt. Shiny Emilda De Oliviera, Zilla Panchayat Member, Santa Cruz
9. Smt. Jenifer Tome Hilitor De Oliviera, Sarpanch, Santa Cruz Panchayat
10. Viresh Borkar, MLA, St. Andre Constituency
