Monday, 4 August 2025

Massive illegal trawler fishing off Cavelosim beach in South Goa



 


There is an open mockery of the the agencies meant to prevent illegal mechanised fishing off Goa coast. According to the prevailing laws mechanised fishing is to be avoided within 5 kms from the coast. 

However today on 04 August 2025 morning there was open violation noticed off Cavelosim Beach when nearly dozen trawlers carried on illegal fishing at a distance very clearly visible from the beach as is captured in the video posted here with GPS coordinates. 

Three agencies that are responsible to crackdown on this type of illegal fishing - Directorate of Fishing, Coastal Security Police, and Captain of Ports - have disappeared from the scene of crime and allowed these fishing crimes go on perpetuate infinitely. This is indeed tragic scenario.

It is the responsibilities of the Fisheries department, Coastal Security Police as well as Captain of Ports have to pull up the strings and Crack down. Otherwise it may be concluded that senior officers of these departments share vested interests to perpetuate Trawler illegality along with appropriate politicians.

Fisheries Minister Nilkant Halarnkar had declared that Government has inducted flying drones in its surveillance arsenal but they don't deter trawlers committed to this illegality in perpetuity.

Interestingly Trawler owners had objected fishing in Arabian Sea during monsoon fishing ban period by Colva fishermen in July 2025 followed by retaliatory press conference by fishers at Colva. However trawlers are indulging in equally dangerous illegality - fishing within specified limits of 5 kms from shore - that even Goa bench of Bombay High Court has ruled against such practices in recent judgment and these Violations amounts to contempt of Court. Trawlers have clearly failed to practice what they preach.


No comments:

Post a Comment