Call to defend Sinquerim river

20 May 2025

To,

Captain of Ports,

Government of Goa,

Panaji, Goa

To,

The Director of Fisheries,

Government of Goa,

Panaji, Goa

To,

Director of Tourism,

Government of Goa,

Paryatan Bhavan,

Panaji, Goa

Subject: Call to cease all water sports/tourism canoes operations in Sinquerim river from June 01 to August 31

Sir/Madam,

It has been brought to our attention at National Federation of Small-Scale Fishworkers (NFSF) through our affiliate Union in Goa namely All Goa Small Scale Responsible Fisheries Union (AGSSRFU) that over the past three years situation of Sinquerim river in Bardez is in precarious condition due to Captain of Ports unilateral decision to allow tourism water sports boats carrying tourists to operate during the months of June to August on the mouth of Sinquerim river.

From the mouth of Sinquerim river upto 2 kms inland 24 such boats with PNJ registration carry on their activities in the monsoon season which is also fishing ban period. Fishing ban was introduced with the intention to allow fish breeding in marine waters free from disturbance of high HP outboard engines and mechanised fishing. Allowing tourism canoes to operate in river with 40 HP outboard engine therefore is an open mockery of the very intention of fishing ban to ensure undisturbed fishing breeding season.

It has been brought to our attention by members of All Goa Small Scale Responsible Fisheries Union who are actively involved in fishing in Sinquerim river that such plying of tourism canoes with permission from Captain of Ports has disrupted Fisheries of the river as 24 canoes operating with tourists on board with 40 HP outboard motor on the mouth of Sinquerim river past three years. Such activities prevents fish from entering mouth of Sinquerim river as that space is kept non-stop disrupted by tourism canoes with 40 HP ourboard engine.

For the past three years this has been the situation that led both the disruption of fish breeding in Sinquerim river as well as negatively affecting local fishing communities in Sinquerim, Candolim and Nerul. Tourism cannot take preference over fishing in Sinquerim river during monsoon fishing ban and we strongly object to such priorities.

Captain of Ports office therefore urged to identify canoes permitted to operate in Sinquerim river from June to August 2025 and withdraw whatever permission granted to those canoes.

Please ensure that no water sports canoes are allowed to operate in Sinquerim river from June to August henceforth.

We also wish to bring to your attention that India is signatory to Voluntary Guidelines for Securing Sustainable Small-Scale Fisheries in the Context of Food Security and Poverty Eradication (VG-SSF Guidelines) from 2013 onwards (https://openknowledge.fao.org/server/api/core/bitstreams/edfffbfc-81e5-4208-a36f-334ff81ac10f/content). This is an International law that Government of India has declared Implimentable in India through National Policy on Marine Fisheries 2017. According to section 5.5 of VG-SSF Guidelines "States should recognize the role of small-scale fishing communities and Indigenous people to restore, conserve, protect and co-manage local aquatic and coastal eco-systems."

So protection of Sinquerim river is priority for us and we are holding your office accountable to ensure that Sinquerim river Fisheries is protected.

The Sinquerim river is used for fishing purpose during monsoon by over 350 local fishers. However decision of Captain of Ports to grant permissions for canoes during monsoon ban past three years has been without consultation with fishing communities and against the interests of fishing communities locally.

According to section 1.2 of VG-SSF Guidelines it's right of fishers to participate in decision-making process and to assume responsibilities for sustainable use of fishery resources. Your office is urged to take note of this and act to ensure small-scale fisheries remains economically, socially and environmentally sustainable as per section 1.1 (d) of VG-SSF Guidelines.

You are also directed to section 3 (11) wherein Eco-system Approach to Fisheries (EAF) is adopted as an important guiding principle to ensure fishing based livelihoods  of small-scale fishing communities are protected.

Captain of Ports and Director of Tourim are urged to cease all operations of any canoes operating in Sinquerim river with for tourism purposes henceforth from June 01 to August 31 to ensure that fish breeding process during this period remains undisturbed.

Fisheries Department is urged to defend interes of the fishing communities and object to the tourism canoes with 40 HP outboard engines that creates massive disruptions underwater due to sound waves generated.

We hope that you will take note of this letter and ensure that no tourism canoes operate in Sinquerim river from June 01 to August 31 henceforth.

Thanking you.

Yours sincerely,

Sebastiao Rodrigues

General Secretary,

National Federation of Small-Scale Fishworkers (NFSF)