In Defence of Fishers of Caranzalem Beach!

Rampon fishing on Caranzalem Beach 

Today 26 October 2025 is one more day in history of Goa where fishers - women and men - valiantly fought back tourism aggression on Aivao Beach at Caranzalem. Oceanman, the global network behind this aggresion - declared on their website all the details of their plans to organise swimming races at the beach beginning with briefing at Cidade de Goa on 24 October 2025. The races were to be held at Caranzalem on Aivao Beach. Aivao is spelled on the website as Aivavo. Only missing information was consent from local fishermen. That cost them to be cast out of the beach today! Henceforth every corporate will know the value of consulting fishers on their plans.

Organisers were to have series of swimming races on 25-26 October 2025 on Caranzalem beach at Aivao.

Today races were to begin in two parts. First at 7.00 am and the second at 11.00 am.

As per online reports available local fishermen cast their fishing net -Rampon - early morning in waters exactly at the same Beach. Rampon fishing is Beach seine that is done with collaboration of nearly 80 people pulling the fishing nets at the two edges in waters casted through a big size boat. The gap between two edges of fishing nets is nearly two kilometers at the start and it diminishes towards the end of pulling effort. Caranzalem is one of the few beaches in Goa this rampon survives test of times as number of them has been closed down due to various factors.

Rampons has been genuine traditional marine fishing tradition of coastal Goa. The entire efforts of rampon takes nearly seven hours of hard non-stop pulling efforts. Once rampons are in waters no way it can be pulled up immediately.

There looked to be complete information gap between the Oceanman on one side promoting swimming races and the fishermen and fisherwonen engaged in fishing. Time of their operations clashed just as the Geography. Women led the charge. Private security of Oceanman behaved to threatened violence against fishers as per online reports. Police showed up on the beach. Several four wheelers seen moving on the beach. Invasion was real.

Fishers were in complete darkness over sudden decent of powerful strangers on their beach and chasing them off. Retaliation by handful of fishers was resolute. Strong enough to push the Oceanman dream swimming races wash down the drains of time. Fishers refused to bulge. They objected any swimming races inside their fishing nets.

Local fishers take turn to fishing in teams. Each team gets their turn of rampon after 19 days. What they earn on their turn of day has to fetch them income at least for next19 days. Or else they would go in financial crunch extending to debt.

Swimming races of paricipants from India and abroad suddenly threatened their occupational practices. They fought well. They deserve our support and respect.

There are series of attacks on fishers from vested interests from various quarters. Marinas, water sports and parasailing in Zuari river. PNJ boats in Sinquerim river. Water sports threats in Sal river. Gambling Casinos obstructing Verem fishing spaces at Reis Magos in Mandovi river.

Critical issue common in all the cases: Fishers are excluded from decision making and projects hostile to fishers interests are rolled out like magician pops out rabbit out of the hat. This must stop. State and corporates must not take fishers for ride any longer. If it's done then there will be consequences for sure!

Inspiring resistance is all over Goa and Caranzalem fisher fight back to defend their fishing practices is one more inspiring episode to cherish and remember!