Date: 7th April 2015
To,
The Secretary
(Fisheries)
Government of
Goa,
Porvorim, Goa
Subject: Continues
threats to fisheries in Zuari river since our last meeting with you on 24th February 2015
As you are already aware of our letters to
you dated 21stNovember 2014, 15th December
2014, 19th January 2015 and 27th February 2015 that
fisheries are facing threat from tourism related water sports activities Hotel
Grand Hyatt and illegal fishing by trawlers in Zuari river. We write today to
update you on the fishing rights violations since our last letter to you on 27th
February 2015 and seek your co-operation to stop fishing rights violations
permanently.
1. On 27th February 2015 sixteen trawlers carried on illegal
trawling from 7.00 am onwards.
2. At 1.30 pm on 28th February 2015 there were 20 trawlers fishing
illegally in Zuari River. This was reported to Superintendent of Fisheries. He
replied for Saturday and Sunday do not contact us. Contact Coastal Police
station. When Coastal police station was informed they disclosed the familiar
excuse for inaction: breakdown of police boat. So inaction again.
3. At 1.30 pm on March 01, 2015 20 trawlers engaged in illegal
fishing in Zuari River. At 6.00 pm the number shot up to 30 trawlers. Minister
of Fisheries Avertano Furtado was contacted. He promised to act but did not.
Police were contacted by Rohidas Andrade; the reply he received from them at
Harbour coastal police station is that out of the two boats one has suffered
breakdown and the other one was without fuel.
4. 30
member delegation led by President of Bharat Mukti Morcha’s Goa Unit President Maggie
Silveira called on the director of Fisheries Sharmila Monteiro on March 02,
2015 even as the day was full of illegalities in Zuari river with 20 trawlers
in the morning at 7.45 am and 28 trawlers in the afternoon at 3.30 pm. During
the meeting it came to the fore that the illegal fishing of trawlers was being
encouraged by the Director of Fisheries herself. Department was engaged in
scheduled patrolling to tackle unscheduled illegal trawling. The schedule is of
two hours in a day. When asked as to what happens to illegal fishing control
for the remaining 22 hours of the day Director replied ‘God alone knows!’
Director promised to get Patrol boat in Zuari River but did not give any
deadline as to when the boat will arrive. Director also disclosed that
litigations have been initiated against the offending trawlers caught by police
and fisheries department. When asked whether there is ban on trawlers to carry
on fishing during the trial period, director answered in negative. So the
trawlers carry on repeated violations in this regard. The example of trawler
‘Netra’ owned by Tulsidas Kukalkar was cited to prove this point. Next Fishermen presented their objections to
the Director on water sports carried on by Hotel Grand Hyatt that are causing
disturbances to fishing in Zuari for traditional fishermen. Inspection on
Superintendent of fisheries was fixed for the next day on Bambolim Beach. Director
was questioned on the race organized in Zuari River on February 22, 2015 that
caused intense problems for fishing activities in Zuari River. Director denied
having granted permission for any such activities and disclosed that permission
was granted by deputy collector.
5. On
March 03, 2015 Superintendent of Fisheries Rishikesh conducted inspection of
illegalities involving fishing rights violations in Zuari River. He arrived at
5.00 pm when just 15 minutes before his arrival 16 trawlers were in Zuari River.
And then suddenly all of them zoomed up into Arabian Sea. Superintendent of
Fisheries is suspected to have called up trawlers and instructed them to move
off the river to avoid embarrassing questions
by fishermen.
6. On
March 04, 2015 there were 16 trawlers actively engaged in illegalities at 7.00
am. And in the evening at 6.00 pm there were 6 trawlers doing the same.
7. At 3.45 pm on March 05, 2015 nine trawlers were engaged in illegal fishing practice in Zuari.
8. At 9.45 am on March 07, 2015 2 trawlers engaged in illegal
trawling. At 3.45 pm 4 trawlers were fishing in Zuari. Police when contacted
disclosed that their two patrol boats damaged and without fuel respectively.
9.
On March 08, 2015 there were 7
trawlers engaged in illegal trawling in Zuari River.
10.
On March 09, 2015 there were 9
trawlers engaged in illegal trawling at 9.45 am. Then in the evening at 4.15
there as massive violation of fishing rights with 30 trawlers engaging
in illegalities.
11.
On March 10, 2015 there were 9
trawlers illegally fishing in Zuari River at 3.00 pm. Director
of Fisheries not willing to crackdown on illegal trawling in Zuari River.
12.
On March 11, 2015 there were two
trawlers engaged in illegal fishing in Zuari River at 12.15 pm.
13.
On March 16, 2015 afternoon at 2.30 pm 4
trawlers were seen engaged in illegal fishing in Zuari River. Most of the time
this is done either with connivance of the Director of Fisheries and other time
through Minister of fisheries. Superintendent of fisheries too has major role
to encourage illegal trawling in Zuari.
14.
On March 18, 2015 morning at 7.00 am
there were 20 trawlers in Zuari River.
15.
On March 22, 2015 there were
multiple violations of fishing rights in Zuari River. In the morning from 9.15
am onward there was disruption of fishing activities mainly due to water sports
activities facilitated by Hotel Grand Hyatt. Four doubled motored boats were in
the river in addition to two single motored ones. So all together there were
six of them. Bharat Mukti Morcha protested via sms campaign called for
permanent halt to water sports activities in Zuari River. In the evening at 5.15 pm four trawlers were
fishing in Zuari with active nexus with Director of Fisheries.
16.
On 27th March 2015 at 9.10 am
revealed the prowling of 9 trawlers in Zuari River, engaged in illegal fishing
activities.
17.
All together 15 fishing rights
violations were reported on March 31, 2015 in Zuari River by trawlers fishing
illegally, unsustainable practices. 9 of these violations took place in the
morning at 9.15 am and the remaining 6 at 4.45 pm in the evening.
18.
4 trawlers were
seen violating fishing rights violations on 1st April 2015 at 4.55 pm.
19.
On 2nd April 2015 six trawlers were
seen engaged in violation of fishing rights in Zuari river at 6.45 pm.
20.
According to reports from fishermen
in Zuari river on 03 April 2015 at 12.45 pm motored boat with 6 tourist
passengers ventured out into Zuari river from Hotel Grand Hyatt, Bambolim
thereby causing fishing rights violations.
21.
On April 04, 2015 seven trawlers
were observed engaged in illegal fishing in Zuari at 6.00 am. This is going due
to strategic decision of Director of fisheries not to deploy patrol boat in
Zuari.
22.
On April 05, 2015 20
trawlers were seen engaged in fishing rights violations in Zuari river at 8.45
am. The day was Easter Sunday and it looked as if trawlers were dished out
Easter gift for illegal fishing by Goa Government with neither police nor
fisheries department boats around for checkmate purpose in Zuari river.
23.
Two trawlers were illegally fishing in Zuari river at
6.00 am today 7th April 2015.
The situation on Zuari coast is
turning really intense due to repeated fishing rights violations. If these are
not taken seriously and acted upon by the authorities then unpredictable
turnaround of events may cause major social unrest sending stormy vibrations of
protests and assertion. You are
therefore requested the following:
1. Issue directions to Director of Fisheries not to support illegal fishing by
trawlers in Zuari river as currently she is doing so.
2. Install 24 hours fishing patrol boat of the fisheries department in zuari
river to check violations of fishing rights by trawlers and water sports activities
and stop the same with immediate effect.
3. Cancel all/any permissions granted
to Aqua Sail/ Hotel Grand Hyatt/ Aldeia de Goa for the purpose of water sports.
4. Take special measures to make sure that no fishing rights violations at
even through one or two trawlers or any type of water sports activities.
5. Direct the Collector/Deputy Collector to cancel any permissions given for water sports activities in Zauri river as
it is harming fishing activities. There may be another massive violation of
fishing rights on April 22, 2015 as has been the case on February 22, 2015 and
March 22, 2015.
Awaiting your positive and prompt
action,
Thanking you in anticipation.
Yours sincerely,
Maggie Silveira
Convener, Bharat Mukti Morcha, Goa Unit
Sd/-
Rohidas Andrade
Convener, Bharat Mukti Mrocha, Bambolim Unit
Sd/-
Sanjay Pereira
Convener, Bharat Mukti Morcha, Cacra Unit
Sd/-
Anthony Cardozo
Convener, Bharat Mukti Morcha, Curca Unit
