Director of Fisheries delay in withdrawing NOC to water sports in Zuari River

Date: 07^th February 2018

To,

The Minister of Fisheries,

Government of Goa, Secretariat,

Porvorim, Goa

Subject: Director of Fisheries delay in withdrawing NOC to water sports in Zuari River

Sir,

We have submitted letter dated 17^th November 2017 to the office of the Director of Fisheries, Panjim on 24^th November 2017 calling for the withdrawal of NOC granted to Aqua sail to carry on water sports in River Zuari due to disturbance to fishing activites. However we have noted that even after two months we have no intimation of any action taken on our letter to withdraw said NOC. As an IAS officer Director’s delay is unacceptable and hence we call upon your intervention here with immediate attention as you have done in past may occasions.

We had communicated to Director of Fisheries that water sports boats operated in River Zuari disturbs fishing activities. As you may be aware one of the main conditions to grant NOC for water sports is that the fishermen and fishing activities should not be disturbed. Due to the noise of the engine of water sports boats fish availability has reduced near Nauxi-Bambolim coast thereby causing suffering to the fishing communities. In addition fishing nets get entangled with water sports boats and tear off. Water sports boats in Zuari has become total nuisance to the fishermen fishing in River Zuari and violation of terms of conditions of NOC.

Problems arise due to net space clashing with water sports boats space in river Zuari. Fishing nets gets trap to water sports boats. Fishermen there in Zuari put out Gill nets in the morning and pull back in the evening. These nets gets entangle with under water fans of water sports boats and gets cut off. If it cuts then it has to be tied again immediately. If not then two pieces of nets drifts away in water, when this happens net gets destroyed. If some other fishermen go in river unaware of torn nets then that fishing boat too gets entangle and engine goes off. Machine shaft suffer damage with its ropes. Water sports boats have more powerful machinery and the floating nets gets cut off while our boat machinery cannot cut ropes and so gets entangle leading to financial loss.  Very often these torn fishing nets gets entangle with our own boats when we go out searching our nets. In addition to this it creates problem of Ghost fishing when fish gets trapped in these open floating torn nets in river.

We therefore request you the following:

1.     Issue directions to the Director of Fisheries to withdraw NOC granted to Aquasail for water sports operations in River Zuari with immediate effect.

2.     Immediately set up Fisheries Defence Study Cell at the Directorate of Fisheries to know the impact of water sports on Fishermen all over Goa. We have noted concerns of Fishermen from Morjim expressed during your Fishermen dialogue meeting in January 2018 that Gautam Singhania’s water sports boats in Chapora River are also disrupting fishing activities of local fishermen in Morjim. This must not be allowed to take place and Department of Fisheries without delay set up Fisheries Defence Study Cell and set off pro-active initiatives as large number fishermen are voiceless and you have to be their voice.

We assure you of our co-operation and support to you.

Thanking you,

Yours Sincerely,

Maggie Silveira,

President, Goa State

Sanjay Pereira

Convener, Cacra unit  

Rohidas Andrade

Convener, Bambolim unit

Socorro Braganza

Convener, Siridao Unit

Anthony Cardozo

Convener, Curca Unit

Sitaram Pereira

Convener, Odxel Unit

Milind Palkar

Convener, Nauxi unit

Ms. Kalpana Diukar

Co-convenor, Odxel Unit

Chandrakant Lotlikar

Secretary, Siridao Unit

Hanuman Dias

Co-convenor, Odxel Unit

Honu Divkar,

Co-convener, Odxel Unit

Deu Kankonkar

Secretary, Nauxi Unit

Yeshwant Shirvoikar,

Co-convener, Odxel Unit

Manguesh Sawant,

Co-convener, Odxel unit

Amir Mardolkar,

Co-convener, Nauxim Unit

Francis Coelho,

Co-convener, Nauxim Unit

Ms. Jaya Kuttikar

Co-convenor, Odxel Unit

Jonu Shirvoikar,

Co-convenor, Odxel Unit

Ms. Sheila D’mello,

Co-convener, Cacra Unit

Ashok Kukalkar

Co-convenor, Odxel Unit

Ganashyam Diukar

Co-convenor, Odxel

Uttam Martins

Co-convener, Odxel Unit

Rohit Hadkonkar,

Co-convenor, Bambolim Unit

Sanju Diukar

Co-convenor, Odxel Unit,

Chandrakanth Rosario

Co-convenor, Cacra Unit

Vijay Sawant

Co-convenor, Cacra Unit

Ragunath Sautodkar

Co-convenor, Cacra Unit

Mahadev Andre Rosario

Co-convenor, Nauxim Unit