Thursday 15 February 2018

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



Date: 07th 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 17th November 2017 to the office of the Director of Fisheries, Panjim on 24th 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

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