Calling your urgent attention to Zuari river illegal fishing

Date: 26/07/2018

To,

FRANCISCO MANUEL SILVEIRA

Member of Legislative Assembly

St. Andre Constituency,

Goa

To,

ANTONIO CAETANCO FERNANDES

Member of Legislative Assembly

ST. Cruz Constituency

Goa

To,

JENIFFER MONSERRATE

Member of Legislative Assembly

Taleigao Constituency

Goa

Subject: Calling your urgent attention to Zuari river illegal fishing

Dear Madam/Sir,

We write to call your urgent attention to the illegal fishing in Zuari river by trawlers and purse seine boats in spite of government assurance to stop the same. Illegal fishing is going on within five kilometers from the shore between Siridao to Odxel in Zuari river which is a valuable fish breeding site. Illegal fishing was going on even in the month of July when fishing by trawlers and purse seine nets is banned by Goa Government. Some of dates we have documented when illegal fishing went on includes: 23/7/2018 (One trawler at 11.30 pm), 14/07/2018 (One trawler at 10.15 am) , 23/05/2018 (thirty five trawlers at 08.00 am), 22/05/2018 (four trawlers at 06.45 pm), 18/05/2018 (three trawlers at 2.00 am and five trawlers at 10.05 pm).

We have made number of representations before the State Government and also met various government officers over the past few years in this regard. On November 15, 2017 we had special joint meeting facilitated by Jennifer Monserrate, MLA, Taleigao at Secretariat, Porvorim with Fisheries Minister Vinoda Datarama Paliencar, TCP Minister Vijay Sardesai and OSD Durgadas Kamat. Fishermen delegation led by Sanjay Pereira was assured that the fine for illegal fishing will hiked from Rs.100/- to Rs.25,000/-. However till date this assurance has not been fulfilled. Patrolling has collapsed from January 2018.

We request you to raise the issue in the current session of the Goa Legislative Assembly and get the fines for illegal fishing by trawlers and purse seine boats increased drastically and get the efficient vigilance system installed in Zuari river to stop illegal fishing by trawlers and purse seine boats forever.

Thanking you,

Yours Sincerely,

Maggie Silveira,

President, Goa Unit

Sanjay Pereira

Convenor, Cacra Unit

Soccorro Braganza

Convenor, Siridao Unit

Sitaram Pereira

Convenor, Odxel Unit

Milind Palkar

Convenor, Nauxim Unit

Ms. Kalpana Diukar

Co-convenor, Odxel Unit

Chandrakant Lotlikar

Secretary, Siridao Unit

Hanuman Dias

Co-convenor, Odxel Unit

Honu Divkar

Co-convenor, Odxel Unit

Deu Kankonkar

Secretary, Nauxim Unit

Yeshwant Shirvoikar

Co-convenor, Odxel Unit

Manguesh Sawant

Co-convenor, Odxel Unit

Amir Mardolkar

Co-convenor, Nauxim Unit

Francis Coelho

Co-convenor, Nauxim Unit

Jaya Kuttikar

Co-convenor, Odxel Unit

Jonu Shirvoikar

Co-convenor, Odxel Unit

Ms. Sheila D’mello

Co-convenor, Cacra Unit

Ashok Kukalkar

Co-convenor, Odxel Unit

Ganashyam Diukar

Co-convenor, Odxel Unit

Uttam Martins

Co-convenor, Odxel Unit

Rohit Hadkonkar

Co-convenor, Bambolim Unit

Sanju Diukar

Co-convenor, Odxel Unit

Chandranath Rosario

Co-convenor, Cacra Unit

Vijay Sawant

Co-convenor, Cacra Unit

Ragunath Sautodkar

Co-convenor, Cacra Unit

Mahadev Andre Rosario

Co-convenor, Nauxim Unit

Laxman Mangueshkar

Co-convenor, Siridao Unit

Copy to:

Director of Fisheries, Panjim, Goa