Fishing Report from Uttara Kannada District of Karnataka, India

Aghanasini river in Devgi village from where Portuguese ships loaded spices to navigate into Europe

I am on visit to Uttara Kannada district of Karnataka coast past two days to get to know the coast and fishing communities. There are many river connected to Arabian Sea in this district. Four major rivers include Kali, Gangavali, Aghanashini and Shravati. Each of these river banks hosts fishing communities just like Arabian Sea coast does. I had closer interactions with fishing communities representatives at Devgi village on the banks of river Aghanishini river. This river supplies sand to real estate lobby. Fishing communities themselves are involved in sand mining. Reasons for this scenario needs further investigation.

There are around 80 fishing cannoes in the village. Fishing activities are carried on in Aghanashini river as well as in Arabian Sea. Ambiga fishing community has major presence in the village. Their significant marker is throwing of casting net into the river waters by rotating above the head with remarkable ease to catch fish. There are many more problems that village is facing including ignorance of government schemes for fishing communities as well as laws governing fishing communities.

This village of Devgi and the neighboring villages is major labour supplier to Trawlers in Goa and Ratnagiri district of Maharashtra. They suffer acute exploitation. Often when Trawlers are not getting fish in their nets then owners of Trawlers put workers under stress. This leads of fights on board Trawlers. There are often incidents go unreported of incidents when workers are beaten up and thrown into the Arabian Sea waters from Goa Trawlers. Trawler owners have their Union in Goa but they don't allow workers on Trawlers to form the Union. This makes position of workers very weak. This situation requires adequate attention and way out.

Also found that people come to near-by Gokarna Beach to perform rites of purification to attain peace to the soul of their departed family member. After the rite clothes on their bodies are discarded on the beach and new ones are put on. Old clothes gets washed into the Arabian sea water. Most of these clothes has plastics in them. Lots of clothes are lying scattered on the beach too which needs to be taclked and Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) enforced for clothes as well as other material disposed in waters. It's gradually turning into an issue that needs attention and sensitive yet decisive intervention.

Glass bottles, broken bottles and other plastics items are gradually crowding the sea bed and river beds and neither community nor state response to reverse the situation is forth coming. There is no awareness on SSF Guidelines, Fisheries laws or ILO Convention 188 amongst fishing communities. Educational Institutions, Panchayats and Fishing organisations representatives who were present at the meeting are requested to work as team to build up awareness and form the Union of fishing communities in North Canara district in various talukas.

Response received at the meeting as well as with meeting with individuals has been overwhelming and promising.

I did share information, vision  and perspectives from NPSSFW experience over the past eight years from 2016 till 2024 in a snapshot with examples from various Geographies of India.

My visit was ably facilitated by my colleague Prashant Ramappa of NPSSFW to whom I remain deeply grateful.

Dr. Sebastiao Rodrigues

National Council Member,

NPSSFW

29 October 2024

NPSSFW statement in Goa Press

Sebastian Rodrigues, National Council Member of National Platform for Small Scale Fish Workers (NPSSFW) issued statement against menancing illegal trawling and purse seine fishing in Zuari river. Navhind Times published the same with some censorship in their daily. Here it is hyperlinked. 

We publish as a matter of historical record uncensored statement that was widely shared and debated on social media as below:

Illegal fishing in zuari with political patronage

Today September 22, 2021 at 4.00 pm eight trawlers carried on illegal fishing in Zuari river at Siridao- Cacra- Odxel stretch. There is also reported daily trawlers and purseiners carrying on illegal fishing in Zuari river. Culprits are from Vasco and Agassaim as per the reliable sources. Minister of Fisheries Philip Neri Rodrigues along with several politicians like Michael Lobo are involved promoting and protecting illegal fishing in Zuari river. Director of Fisheries Shamila Monteiro has proved to be useless in discharging her duties. She was once thrown out from the department but consistent lobbying by Olencio Simoes has brought her back in the office to destroy marine life by promoting illegal trawling and purseinig in violation of Fisheries department rules and regulations.

Few days ago Six purse seine boats were caught in the Act of illegal by police and all of them were released after alleged political pressure from Ports Minister and Calangute MLA Michael Lobo.

All Goa Small Scale Respinsible Fisheries Union had two rounds of discussions with Goa Fisheries Minister. He continues to give same old excuse that there is no staff to operate patrol boat with Fisheries department. 

St. Andre MLA Francis Silveira had publicly called for ban on illegal fishing by trawlers and purse seine boat owners at specially called public meeting in Bambolim two years ago. He however is keeping silent   that indicate that he is no longer interested protecting interest of small scale fishers in Zuari.