There are almost daily reports of illegal trawling and purse seine fishing within 05 kms specified area off Goa coast. Reports have also come in from Zuari river where Captain of Ports have provided have stationed special patrol boat at Bambolim Beach. This boat is to be operated by Police at Coastal Security Police station at Harbour, Vasco.
Boat remains inactive on the beach. Phone call from Captain of Ports in-charge officer to Harbour Police Station revealed something shocking few days ago when delegation from All Goa Small Scale Responsible Fisheries Union (AGSSRFU) visited COP office on Monday 22 September 2025 and met Octavio Rodrigues the COP to inquire about location of COP patrol vessel given to Harbour police to combat illegal fishing in Zuari river.
Police at Harbour informed that illegal trawling and illegal purse seine is not visible to Police even though 40 fishing vessels carried on their day light robbery on the mouth of Zuari from 7.00 am onwards until 10.00 am past four days from 19-23 September 2025.
Fisheries department has patrol boat of its own which is under repairs for past year and a half as per sources inside the department. Department boat has vanished from the waters and nowhere visible.
Coastal Police too has its Patrol boats but they are seen only during VIP visits Security or they go to fish out dead bodies of those who fall off/ suicide from Sanvordem Bridge. Police at Harbour Station view traditional small scale fishers with contempt and disrespect and don't consider it is worthy norm to obey the mandates of law to crack down on illegal trawling and purse seine within 05 kms from the shore. There are repeated complaints in this regards in Zuari river. There are other reports too from other shores in Goa like Morjim, Calangute, Candolim, Benaulim, Colva, Cavelosim etc off illegal trawling and purse seine within 05 kms.
Many carry on purse seine without permissions for their nets. Other use canoes without registration number painted on them.
The greed and avarice to move towards mechanization has prompted vast oppression and disparity within fishing sector in Goa to the detrimental consequences for marine ecology as well as livelihood of small scale fishers within five kilometers from the shore and in Zuari river.
All the above reasons are responsible for continue illegal fishing off Goa coast and in Zuari river too.
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