On 09 July 2026 Government of Goa organised function in Panjim to celebrate National Fish Farmers Day. The narrative that was presented at the function is that marine capture fisheries production is going down as fish catch has reduced in the waters of Arabian Sea off the Goa coast. And this the reason fish farming is promoted with all the gusto with State backing.
This State driven narrative however hasn't gone without scrutiny amongst the fishers who attended this program. The logic of this narrative is increasingly facing contestations. The questions that are raised by fishers present at function of national fish farming day are very important and merits attention. This is more so because the fishers are intimately connected to the Sea. So here lets dive into the issues raised by fishers post- national fish farmers day per the presented logic and its deconstruction.
Need for Fish farming
In Goa we always associated the idea of farming with paddy fields that cultivated rice, sometimes twice a year for certain but certainly once during monsoon. The farming was economy by itself and was sustained through efforts of local people that has almost entered pages of history. Idea of farming was associated with activities on land connected to agriculture. Only way it got connected to Fisheries was in case of farming in reclaimed lands in Goa known as Khazan lands regulated through sluice gates which are also in a dilapidated state.
Current narrative presents the situation at shortage of fish to harvest via capture fisheries and therefore need for fish farming - aquaculture of various types.
The situation of fish scarcity
While the state assessment of the shortage is true what is worrying is also scarcity of State efforts to identify the causes of the declining marine fish. These is scandalous non-attention to this aspect by Goa Government towards governance of fisheries. Fisheries however have their own understanding as to why there is shortage of fish in waters of Arabian Sea. Few of these concerns are outlined here.
Connections of scarcity with LED Fishing
It's well known admitted fact that despite ban on use of LED in fishing practices it is used for the purpose widely, illegally. This matter was even heard before Goa Bench of Bombay High Court several times where in Director of Fisheries defended right of fishing vessels to carry generators on board but prohibited to use them for lighting of marine waters through LED. This status has created enforcement nightmare with open and flagrant advantage being taken by the industrial fishers. Violations are open and visible even from the beaches on the entire coastline of Goa at night. State enforcement through Fisheries Department as well as Coastal Security Police are few centuries behind and are one of the prime reasons for generation of food insecurity through smooth functioning of LED lights on industrial fishing vessels. This understanding of fishers themselves and deliberately pushed under the carpet.
FMFO as destinations for juvenile fish
LED Fishing blinds and traps even tiny juvenile fish in industrial fishing gears attached to the vessels at Sea. These unethical harvests are brought dead to the shore and directed into Fish Meals for Fish Oil (FMFO) for variety of industrial reasons. This causes deliberate depletion of marine fish species. There was never shortage of fish in waters before the industrial fishing was introduced. Neat and clean sweep of marine commons even within 05 kms from the shore by the Industrial fishing fleet has triggered the crisis point in marine waters popularly known as fish famine. Government of Goa has not put these industrial fishing practices under the scrutiny as possible contributors for destroying marine ecology, causing fish depletion and triggering food insecurity. On the contrary the are instances in the past when Goa Government even facilitated these very industrial fishers to prosper and even falicitate them on World Fishers day. I this context Goa Government have failed in governance of Fisheries at least partly and even terribly betyed. Celebration of Fish Farmers Day is the indication of collapse in marine fisheries governance in Goa.
Plastic harvest in fishing nets
It's increasing trend these days when proportion of plastic harvests is overtaking fish harvest in marine fisheries. From gillnet fishing to cast net fishing fishing nets are the sites for plastic harvests in fishing nets. Goa Government has been negligent in identifying the source locations of garbage dumping instances in marine waters often through connected rivers. Fishermen even narrate that there are several patches where sea floors and riverbed are covered with thick layers of mature litter. This is not even on the agenda of Fisheries department or any other agency of the Goa Government.
Deliberate marine destructive projects
Indian government in collusion with Goa government initiayed marine destructive projects in Zuari river. MPT under central givernment jurisdictions signed out several lakh square meters of Zuari river fronts to two corporates at prime locations in Nauxi and Sancoale via 30 year lease deed in October 2010. People including Fisher have combats this past decade and a half and successfully protected fishing spaces all along. Draft EIA study of Nauxim Marina infact confirms that through the Marina project there will be long term irreversible negative impacts on fisheries. And still Goa Government backed it up. Matter is pending before Goa Bench of Bombay High Court and have witnesses serial postponements from September 2025.
Casino invasion of Mandovi
Most dramatic disrespect to Fisheries is visible in Mandovi river. Several gambling centres on floating vessels have occupied mandovi waters past several decades. It's is not just physical spaces of fishing in river waters but also daily clandestine release of sewage water early mornings that contributes to degradation of fishing waters and pollution. Yet Casinos being convenient transformers of money into white its getting daily boost and vitamins one and all the nefarious of the world. This ensures continues degradation of fishing waters. This is also the context as to why fish farming is promoted in Goa.
Marine metros and marine ecology
There are talks that Goa Government is considering another project known as marine metros in Goa. Routes are getting mapped in rivers to install metro services. Reasons given are decongestion of passengers on road and promotion of Tourism. What is missing however is impact on marine ecology and impact on fish behaviours when marine metros takes off.
The above points are just few points - tip of the iceberg - based on leads from ground level churnings amonsts fishers of Goa. There are lots more things to ponder about and express. I invite you too to join in this action-reflection venture in diverse ways.
Sebastian Rodrigues
