Trawlers plunder Benaulim coast

According to available evidence nearly 14 trawlers plundered Benaulim coast by fishing illegally within specified area today 06 August 2025 morning. Distance looked ridiculously short - within 200 meters from the shore.
 

There was no sign of any Fisheries surveyors, Fisheries officers, Superitendent of Fisheries, deputy director of Fisheries, director of Fisheries, Secretary to Fisheries (IAS) nor Minister of Fisheries was around with any preventive nor combative strategy in place even though all of these officials are paid through public taxes to do so.

Few days ago dozen trawlers were caught on camera destroying Cavelosim coast in South Goa with plunder of fish through illegal fishing. 

Trawlers are licensed to carry on their fishing beyond 5 kms from the shore but the evidence suggests that trawlers care a hoot for the laws of Goa State. 

Trawling damage is magnified through bull trawling and LED fishing that has brought Goa Fisheries to the brink of collapse and Goa Fisheries department has no clue as to what needs to be done on this we planned attack on Goa Fisheries. 

Last month of August Trawler owners issued public video statements condemning fishing in cannoes by Colva fishers during monsoon fishing ban. However these trawler owners are yet to condemn violation of fishing through trawling within specified area of 5 kms forbidden for mechanised fishing. Clear cut practice of double standards observed by trawlers owners.

What is surprising is that Goa Fisheries Minister Nilkant Halarnkar has been announcing drone surveillance to trap trawlers while doing illegal fishing. It looks like he announcement are merely empty words without any matching action over waters. Truly sad state of affairs in Fisheries governance in Goa.

Pictures presented here are with GPS co-ordinates and serves as undisputed evidence of crime. The point is that Goa Fisheries department is behaving toothless to crackdown on illegal trawling.

Fisheries Control room has dedicated helpline 0832-2425263 in Panjim. However it's best that you call up when crime is being committed in the Arabian Sea off Goa coast by trawlers and find out as to how Fisheries department staff are effective or ineffective. Well known past experience so far is that perpetrators of crime in waters get informed immidiately of the complaint and even phone number of complainant is shared with mechanised fishers and to top it all mechanised vessel owners/agents for further detrimental consequences of intimidation. 

The two incidents of illegal trawling in Cavelosim coast few days ago and today in Benaulim indicate that there is collapse of enforcement mechanism of Goa Fisheries department. And it is very important that this fact be recognised and steps taken to turn things around. It is already the situation wherein criminal nexus between trawlers and Fisheries department be broken and Goa Fisheries be protected and insulated from plunder of the mechanised fishers. Earlier it happens better it is. 

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.