IFFI 2025 and its irresponsibilty in Panjim

 

Fishers from all over Goa gathered today 21 November 2025 to celebrate World Fisheries Day at Campal beach, Panjim at a call from All Goa Small Scale Responsible Fisheries Union (AGSSRFU). It was low tide in the afternoon. Heroes -Dhananja N. Kerker, Anilash A. Mehta, Rupesh S. Juvatkar, Kiran S. More and Sudhakar V. Joshi (All from Betul, Goa) who rescued 28 crew of capsized trawler on 28 September 2025 were falicitated. By the time program got over Tides changed. High tide triggered swelling of water. Fishers lingered at the beach near the fishing boats.

Today there was non-stop music in the evening, cultural program on the footpath and few eateries. Just when cultural program got over eatery outlet flunked plastic garbage in the river water where fishing boats are station and in presence of fishers. 

This certainly means that deliberate disposal of plastic waste of International Film Festival of India  (IFFI) into river was sure to get trapped in the fishing nets. The video captures the GIS information on the way river is insulted and treated as urban sink by events such as IFFI in 2025.

Why IFFI arrangements should be so disgusting, irresponsible and careless? Who is accountable for this. Whoever they may be one be clear to whoever they are that we simply refuse to take your nonsense anymore. Pull up and streamline the organising. Don't mess with Mandovi river. Enough is enough!

Fishing manifesto for Parliamentary Elections 2024

Hello Candidates for Lok Sabha Elections from Goa!

Greetings from All Goa Small Scale Responsible Fisheries Union!

We wish to draw your attention to few points that need your attention as a candidate for forthcoming Lok Sabha elections from Goa:

1. National Waterways

All the six rivers (Chapora, Mapusa, Mandovi, Cumbharjua, Zuari, Sal) be excluded from National Waterways Act 2017. This will make rivers legally safe for fishing.

2. Marinas

Two proposals (Nauxim and Sancoale) for Marinas in Zuari river be canceled. Leased deeds for both be canceled. This will ensure unhindered fishing in Zuari river.

3. MPA

Mormugao Port Authority (MPA) be excluded from the scope of Major Ports Authorities Act. This will be helpful to make fishing safe for small scale fishers.

4. Blue Flag

Blue Flag certification proposal for Siridao and other beaches in Goa be revoked. Beaches are declared as fish landing centre and This should not be disrupted by providing exclusive and reserved access to any beach in Goa.

5. Subsidies

Fishing communities fuel subsidies and other facilities be increased for small scale fishers.

6. Plastics

Rivers of Goa be cleaned up of plastic garbage by stopping manufacture of plastics.

7. Mining

Mining in Goa has led to siltation of rivers. It has negatively affected livelihoods of small scale fishing communities. Recent scientific study by Scientists from NIO etc has published evidence to this effect. This needs be taken on board as Indian government is moving ahead to resume mining in Goa.

We request you to keep above seven points on your agenda I times ahead.

We will be happy to extend any further inputs on the above points should you decide to contact us back.

Thanking  you,

Yours sincerely

Shaila D'mello

President

Laximan Mangueshkar

Secretary

Plastic menace in Goa rivers

20 Februrary 2024

To,

Shri Aleixo Sequeira,

The Minister of Environment, 

Government of Goa,

Porvorim, Goa

To,

Principal Secretary 

(Environment)

Government of Goa,

Porvorim, Goa

Subject: Plastic menace in rivers of Goa

Sir,

Greetings from All Goa Small Scale Responsible Fisheries Union!

We wish to draw your urgent attention to the Plastic menace in Goa's rivers. So much of Plastic waste directly being disposed in Goa's rivers has created situation so dangerous not only for our Fishing activities but also to the health of our all rivers and Arabian Sea. During fishing our gillnets trap so much of Plastic thrash including plastic bags. Often it is the case when we harvest more Plastic in our fishing nets than fish.

Moreover in several patched rivers bed is covered with plastics thereby disrupting fish spawning activities specially of various benthic species that needs unhindered direct riverbed access.

We discussed this issued in our Union meetings and decided to approach your office in order get Goa's rivers specially Zuari and Mandovi free from Plastic menace.

You are therefore requested to take all the required steps to address this problem including the following:

1. Ban on manufacture of Plastic specially bags in Goa.

2. Ban of sale and purchase of Plastic bags.

3. Ban on entry of Plastic bags into Goa.

4. Public awareness programs at all levels to educate people including households, ferry boat staff, fishing communities, students, religuous institutions, comsumer organisations, retail shops, coastal hotels, beach shacks, trawlers, waters sports companies, casino vessels in floating in Mandovi etc against dumping of Plastic in rivers.

5. Launch program to clean up all Goa's rivers of existing Plastic dumped and disposing of the same as per exiting regulations.

6. Introduction of river rescue boats on Goa's rivers to fetch floating Plastic.

7. Formation of special task force under Ministry of Environment to clean up coastal areas and rivers of Plastic menace.

8. Recommend to Government of India to impose ban on manufacture of Plastic as it has created consequences that are beyond control and we are at the receiving end facing negative consequences.

Kindly give up person hearing to discuss the above point personally with you.

Your timely and quick response will be highly appreciated.

Thanking you,

Yours sincerely,

Shaila D'mello

(President)

Laximan Mangueshkar 

(Secretary)