continues disruption of fishing in Zuari river due to parasailing activities

Date: 15 January 2026

To,

Director of Tourism, 

Government of Goa,

Panaji, Goa

Subject: continues disruption of fishing in Zuari river due to parasailing activities

Sir,

This is to ca your attention to continues disruption of fishing activities in Zuari river due to parasailing with tourists on board.

In this context All Goa Small Scale Responsible Fisheries Union (AGSSRFU) had personal meeting with you and your subordinate officers including Deputy director Diksha Tari on 08 January 2026.

During the meeting it was got revealed that entire parasailing fleet in Zuari river is functioning without authorisation from Tourism Department. Your office had promised us action to stop this parasailing activities. However it continued and there are daily reports of such parasailing activities in Zuari river from Dona Paula to inwards sometimes reaching upto foreshore of Odxel, Cacra and Nauxim villages.

Constant movement of parasailing boats is detrimental to fishing activities and you are requested to take effective steps to stop it. If your office doesn't act then we will be constraint to initiate further action in defence of Fisheries of Zuari river that your office is currently destroying. 

Request you to station your staff at Odxel beach. We at AGSSRFU are eager to collaborate with your office required manner to tackle this situation.

Photo enclosed.

Thanking you.

Yours sincerely, 

Shaila D'mello

President

Laximan Mangueshkar 

Secretary

Copy to :

Director of Fisheries, Government of Goa, Panaji, Goa

Is it Goa Tourism Department or Terrorism Department?

There is constant disturbance of fishing in Zuari river from a form of tourism known as parasailing. Some agents fetch tourists and transport them into Zuari river. Tourists are then given experience of parasailing in the middle of the river. This creates disturbance in water and chases away the fish. 

All Goa Small Scale Responsible Fisheries Union has lodged complaints before director of Tourism. It has been given to understand that the parasailing activities in Zuari river is unauthorized but there are no actions taken to stall it. As a consequence there is continues suffering to fishing communities. 

In this context tourism department is fast turning into terrorism department. 

Delibrate obstructions to Fishing at Candolim and Baga beaches

 

There looks to be deliberate obstructions created for the fishing activities at Candolim and Baga beaches. Today 30 December 2025 afternoon it was observed that there was clandestine moves from the moving vessels in Arabian Sea to come closer to the shore and erect metal stages above water. Both the sites are daily livelihood earning fishing venues specially for small scale fishing communities. 

This is one more addition to series of incidents threatening smooth functioning of fishing activities specially those who depend upon their livelihood on fishing. Coastal shores and waters are under tourism aggression in Goa.

In Zuari river there is constant daily parasailing from Dona Paula to even reaching to Nauxim coast crossing over Odxel and Cacra shores. In Anjuna there is constant sound pollution and artificial lighting at night (ALAN) with coloured beaming lights in the sky. 

In Chapora river there increased incidents of Tourism speed boats wrecking havoc to fishing communities. Sand mining is rampant at Oxel coast of the river Chapora. 

Regarding mercenary action to create obstructions for Fisheries it is most likely that high ranking officials and people at Ministerial level are involved in this conspiracy. 

Calls to Fisheries department control room dud not advise anything beyond filing of letter objections with authorities.

Real estate lobby coupled with Tourism syndicate is driving Goa's fishing activities into history. It's now time to retaliate and create history. Enough is Enough!

Police complaint against parasailing disrupting fishing in Zuari

26 December 2025

To,

Police Inspector, 

Panaji Police Station,

Panaji, Goa

Subject: Parasailing boats disrupting fishing activities in Zuari river

Sir, 

Kindly initiate action against parasailing boats conducting their operations during day time. Their sailing activitoes goes on from Dona Paula to Nauxim village as of 25 December 2025.

Their movements drives away fish from Zuari river affecting livelihood of hundreds of fisher families. 

All Goa Small Scale Responsible Fisheries Union (AGSSRFU) have already informed through the letters about this dangerous emerging situation to the Directors at Tourism and Fisheries Departments. 

Further AGSSRFU have also communicated this verbally to Deputy directors of Fisheries (C. Velip and Dr.S. Majumdar) during our meeting on 24 December 2025.

In this context we request you to take steps to identify the culprits, book them under relevant sections of law and ensure continuation fishing activities in Zuari river without any disruptions and disturbances due to parasailing activities.

We await your quick action.

Thanking you.

Yours sincerely, 

Shaila D'mello 

President

Laximan Mangueshkar

Secretary

Copy to:

1. Police Inspector, Agaçaim Police Station, Agaçaim, Goa

2. In-charge, Taleigao Police Station, Taleigao, Goa

3. Director of Tourism, Panaji, Goa 

4. Director of Fisheries, Panaji, Goa

5. Shri Viresh Borkar, MLA, St. Andre Constituency

6. Smt. Jennifer Montserrat, MLA, Taleigao Constituency

Call for Police patrolling at Vainginim and Odxel beaches

13 December 2025

To,

The Police Inspector, 

Panaji Police Station,

Panaji, Goa

To,

In-charge,

Police sub-station,

Taleigao, Tiswadi, Goa

Subject: Request for Police Patrolling at Vaiginim and Odxel beaches

Sirs,

There are constant instances of tourists creating nuisance by drinking and smashing liqour bottles at Vaiginim Beach thereby creating dangerous situations for fishermen on the beach working for their livelihoods. Few of these fishermen are members of All Goa Small Scale Responsible Fisheries Union (AGSSRFU) and we call upon you to act.

Secondly we also draw your attention to increasing frequenting of students at Odxel beach and smoking ganja and other narcotic substances. This is indeed very bad occurrence for the locality inhabitated by fishers etc and we call upon Police to act on this. 

Most often the above described situations occur during night time.

We expect your co-operation.

Thank you.

Yours Truly,

Shaila D'mello

President

Laximan Mangueshkar 

Secretary 

Copy to:

1. Deputy Superitendent of Police, Police Headquarters, Panaji, Goa

Restoration of NOC from Fisheries department for Water sports activities in Goa

 01 December 2025

To,

Hon'ble Chief Minister,

Government of Goa, 

Porvorim, Goa

To,

Minister of Tourism, 

Government of Goa, 

Porvorim, Goa

To,

Minister of Fisheries, 

Government of Goa, 

Porvorim, Goa

Subject: Restoration of NOC from Fisheries department for Water sports activities in Goa

Respected Sirs,

There is increasing prevalence of water sports in fishing water spaces in Goa in rivers, estuaries and Arabian Sea fronts in Goa. It is done to cater to Tourism promotion with detrimental effects to fishing activities in many places in Goa. Mandovi, Zuari, Sal rivers are some of the sites where the disruption of fishing due to water sports is acute and objected by local fishing communities.

In view of this All Goa Small Scale Responsible Fisheries Union (AGSSRFU) request to re-introduce provisions of law requiring permission of Fishers Department before sanctioning,  permitting and renewal of water sports activities in the State of Goa. Goa's small scale fisheries needs your support and we count on you for decisive steps on this. 

Kindly initiate immidiate action and notify the undersigned.

Thinking you.

Yours Truly, 

Laximan Mangueshkar 

Secretary

Copy to:

1. Smt. Jennifer Montserrat, MLA, Talegao Constituency, Talegao

2. Shri. Viresh Borkar, MLA, St. Andre Constituency

3. Director of Tourism, Government of Goa,  Panaji, Goa

4. Director of Fisheries, Government of Goa, Panaji, Goa

When casinos get perceived as breeding ground of crimes but solution is deflective...l

How Anil Counto creates discourse of rising crime in Goa rooted in Goa's gambling "industry"

Click here for his online interview.

He traces cause of current high profile criminality -dacoity - in Goa to Casino industry in Goa. 

However solution he prescribes is digital hyper surveillance that is meant to create dystopia State invading privacy massively.

If the cause of crime in Goa is Casino industry then solution should have been dismantling of that industry.

So though he knows the cause as existence of Casinos in Goa yet he still wants them around without crime manifesting around. That logic is weird indeed!

Complaint againt Tourism parasailing/paragliding boats in Zuari river

 25.10.2025

To,

Director of Fisheries,

Government of Goa, 

Panaji, Goa

To,

Director of Tourism, 

Government of Goa,

Panaji, Goa

Subject: Complaint againt Tourism parasailing/paragliding boats in Zuari river

Madam/Sir,

All Goa Small Scale Responsible Fisheries Union is registers strong protest against parasailing/ paragliding boats operating in Zuari river from Dona Paula to Siridao specially in the evenings till 7.30 pm that obstructs our fishing activities.

You are requested to direct them to halt their evening operations in Zuari river or initiate appropriate legal action such as cancelation of their permissions in case they don't comply to your instructions. 

Thanking you.

Yours Truly, 

Shaila D'mello 

President 

Laximan Mangueshkar 

Secretary

Did Oceanmann swimming event had permissions for Bambolim beach?

There was face-off yesterday morning between Caranzalem fishers and the Oceanmann swimming team at Aivao Beach. It has now come to light that this event might have been permitted by Captain of Ports to be organised in Zuari river waters at Bambolim beach on 26 October 2025 morning. 

This is an interesting situation when the international swimming event had State permissions to host it at Bambolim Beach it got inplimented arbitrary to Aivao Beach without any State permissions.

Could the shift venue on this manner be because there is no Bambolim beach existing after being destroyed and swallowed by Hotel Grand Hyatt for upcoming retaining wall inside the river waters?

Or could the shift of venue in this manner vould be because of international negative publicity Hotel Grand Hyatt would have attracted for their Beach destruction in Bambolim?

Was Hotel Grand Hyatt carried on behind-the-scene operations to ensure that International swimming event doesn't take place at Bambolim beach?

If answer to above questions positive then we got into phase of over-tourism wherein tourism is not just gobling local people and ecology but another level where tourim is eating tourism itself. This is a phase disastrous and inevitable to avoid for capital and greed has taken the drivers seat while morals and justice is pushed to margins.

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!

Construction of wall in Zuari river waters at Bambolim by Hotel Grand Hyatt

25.10.2025

To,

Member Secretary, 

Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority, 

Panaji, Goa

Subject: Construction of wall in Zuari river waters at Bambolim by Hotel Grand Hyatt

Sir/Madam

All Goa Small Scale Responsible Fisheries Union (AGSSRFU) pre-occupied with the above subject as the its fisher members on Zuari river coast are directly affected.

There is ongoing construction of retaining wall in Zuari river waters by using heavy machinery specially at night time by Hotel Grand Hyatt at Bambolim.

The destruction in this manner of the coast has made portion of Bamboljm Beach dissappear under construction material dumped in by Hotel Grand Hyatt.

This is affecting fishing activities adversely. We are aware from media reports that many people including St. Andre MLA Viresh Borkar has already brought this nefarious activity to your attention. However we write this to you after noticing that inspite of all the public objections Hotel Grand Hyatt continues to carry on constructions almost 10 meters into the Zuari waters. 

This encroaching of water spaces contributes to rising of water in fishing sites. 

Kindly direct your staff to stop this zuari river land grab immidiately. 

Thank you.

Yours sincerely, 

Shaila D'mello 

President 

Laximan Mangueshkar 

Secretary 

Copy to:

1. Chief Minister of Goa, Porvorim  Goa

2. Viresh Borkar, MLA, St. Andre Constituency

3. Sarpanch, Bambolim Panchayat, Bambolim, Curca, Goa

Shifting sands and the shady shacks of Candolim beach

From times immemorial humans resides on Candolim beach in harmony. Vegetation grew and flourished on the beach. 

Candolim has been amongst prime spots from where local people offered hospitality to tourists from various parts of the world over the past five decades. Few beach shack were set up on beach to provide organised hospitality to visiting international tourists from Europe. 

In 1990s Goa Government tried to do away with beach shack to fuel profits into the pockets of hotels including luxury ones. Shack owners resisted. Around 1995 shackowners all over Goa including Candolim organised themselves into an Association. 

They used to start their operations from November onwards. Over the years somethings changed. Desire for profits intensified. Goalposts changed.  Goa Government permitted starting of Shacks from the beginning of September itself over the past few years. There is not much space for setting up of shacks on Candolim beach as water is yet to recede. 

Past few years JCB pokleins were deployed to excavate sand on the Candolim beach.  This year due to public pressure sand is being shifted manually. Vegetation of the coast is being butchered. Workers are deployed on the beach to excavate and shift sand on the beach to create stage to hoist beach shacks. The entire process is damaging the beach irreversibly. 

The people that lived on coast harmoniously with nature for times immortal have turned hostile towards the coast. Cutting down coast inwards to put up the shack to cater to tourism has created situation deeply disturbing. Number of beach shacks are sub-let by locals to unknown people to operate and do bussiness. Heaps of sands are seen on the beaches yesterday 21 September 2025 as seen in the above picture. Number of workers are seen digging the surface to collect sand and pack into bags, create heaps, create sandy stages, cutting coastal vegetation. Disaster unfolding. 

Today people of Candolim involved in beach shack bussiness has attacked the coast. It's matter of time that coast will attacked coastal people. Only regret will be that it will not separate between shackowner and fishers. Everyone will be made to pay the price. Do we really want to live life so self-destructive and risky? Candolim shackowners will be held accountable for all this.

 

What do Shack owners do with the pokleins ?

What people connected with Shack on beach stretch of Sinquerim-Candolim-Calangute-Baga does with pokleins at night is terrible. They manage politicians and police to ensure that their clandestine night activities of digging of the beaches goes unreported an law enforcing agencies. They move these machinery on the beach and trigger off the process of lifting the sand in inter-tidal zone and dump it few meters away land side where Sea waves don't reach. They create sort of stage of this excavated sand with elevation. 

How it helps the shacks ?

This helps beach shacks to start their bussiness in September two months prior to traditional timing of November. The greed of people connected with shacks including those who have illegally sub-let - by bribing Goa Tourism Department and local politicians - the beach shacks to people from various States in India gets satisfied.

How do fishers suffer?

Fishers have their houses on the beaches. Sand excavation on beaches has triggered massive sand erosion. Local fishers are denied space on beach to move around as beach shacks crowd the coast. Bore wells are dugged to extract water for kitchen in the shacks. Sand erosion is threatening the houses of fishers living on this coast. It's massive disaster unfolding. Fishers suffer greatly as tourism no longer respects local people as hosts. Instead tourism has taken Goa's fishers and ecology as hostages. Even turtles no longer find their nesting spaces intact on beach due to this destructive greed driven human behaviour. Loud music and artificial lighting at night way beyond mid-night is perfect recipe to disrup natural ways conducive to Olive Ridley turtles. No authority cares or rather Authorities that cares a dam are hoisted on licals ever since India annexed Goa through conquest in 1961.

Tourism disaster at Candolim beach

According to available information stability of Sea beach on stretch covering Sinquerim-Candolim-Calangute-Baga has come under fresh threats due to clandestine activities of shifting sands through poklein JCB machinery at night.

Candolim fishers organisation had brought this issue to the attention of North Goa Magistrate on in early July 2025 but authorities chose to sleep over the issue and accelerate threats to Goa's coast. We share text of the same letter:

From: 

Joao G.D. Fernandes

937, Camotim Vaddo,

Camdolim, Goa 

Mobile: 9689549307

Date: 09 July 2025

To,

Collector and District Magistrate, 

North Goa District,

Panjim, Goa

Subject: Application under Disaster Management Act 2005

Sir/Madam,

We draw your urgent attention to main Candolim beach unfolding disaster due to rapid erosion of coastal shore sand.

For past six years beach distance has reduced by nearly 25 meters in monsoons. 

Due to rise in Arabian Sea waters shack owners on Candolim Beach deploy JCB pokleins machinery during night time from 9.00 pm to 5.00 am on beach in the month of September every year in CRZ IA and disrupt beach stability. This process has rapidly aggrevated beach erosion to such an extend that major breach in coastal ecological security is on the cards. Anytime Arabian Sea water is likely to enter Candolim village threatening major disaster.

Kindly take urgent note of the situation and call meetings with Tourism, Fisheries, Environment, Panchayat ministries.

Thanking you.

Yours sincerely, 

(Joao G.D. Fernandes)

Copy to 

1. All Goa Small Scale Responsible Fisheries Union, 190, Nauxim, P.O. Goa University, Bambolim, Goa

Sinquerim Tourism PNJ - Fishing Conflicts, blame it on Jealousy?

Reflections on assertions and claims of Calangute Police Inspector Paresh Naik

Its sounds bizzare but true, Calangute Police Inspector Paresh Naik believes that the root cause of entire Sinquerim tourism PNJ conflicts is a jealousy, that some people operating PNJ boats in Sinquerim river are making more money than others. He made his conclusion public during meeting on 16.08.2025 afternoon with fishers and PNJ tourism boat operators in his cabin in presence of specially invited Police Inspector, Coastal Security Police Station in Ribandar who did not disclose his name.

PI Paresh Naik also believes that letter dated 18.06.2025 issued by Director of Fisheries to the Director of Fisheries forbidding operation of Water Sports and PNJ Tourism boats from 01 June to 31 August every year is useless. According to him that letter would have become useful it it was published in official gazette. Calangute Police Inspector said he wants direct directions from the Director of Fisheries to stop Tourism boats from operating in Sinquerim river. Calangute Police Inspector opined that Director of Tourism need not honor letter from Director of Fisheries. The intriguing part of the conversation is that PI Naik resorted to use of unparliamentary language to express himself in front of people in his cabin that included women fishers.

Calangute Police Inspector with his sweeping analysis also claimed that he has checked documents of PNJ boat operators and found that they have permissions from central government. According to him central government permissions supercedes State Fisheries Department directions to stop operation of Tourism PNJ Boats. Police Inspector also claimed that he is from Nerul village close by to the controversy and is well versed with the issue.

There are few things which Police Inspector Paresh Naik needs be more alert about and shouldn't get swayed by vested interests best interest of Public.

1. That the controversy between fishers and PNJ boat operators on sharing of river water space is not within his jurisdiction to decide upon which he knows very well. Instead of taking partisan stands to support Tourism PNJ boats PI Naik should refrain from overt display of such bias and dishing out of subtle and not-so-suble warnings to Candolim fishers. Let coastal security Police handle the matter. In this sense his decision to invite Police Inspector Ribandar Coastal Security Police is well appreciated.

2. Police Inspector Paresh Naik must well revisit his claims that the root of the controversy lies in jealousy. The root of rebellion of Candolim fishers is deprivation of fishing activities in Sinquerim-Nerul River for past three years ever since Central government permitted tourism passenger boats to operate for pleasure seekers to which Calangute Police Inspector has given deaf ear for reasons best known to him. The clash therefore is between fishers in defence of their fishing spaces on one side and half a dozen people from Sinquerim pushing PNJ boats is same river waters that is used by fishers for fishing. PNJ boats are using 40 HP motors in river with depth less than two meters past three years as it is their legal requirements. Motors were replaced to 9.9 HP overnight on 18.06.2025 without any legal notification to do so by Captain of Ports Octavio Rodrigues. In this sense fisherman J.G.D.Fernandes claimed that Captain of Ports has taken law in his hands, and subsequently, logically Police needs to arrest him.

3. Police Inspector Paresh Naik has put out his tall claim that Central Government permissions to Tourism PNJ boats supercedes Goa State Fisheries Directives to ban PNJ tourism boats in Sinquerim river. Now this is very dangerous colonial situation. It means tomorrow Central government can give permissions to operate PNJ Tourism boats in any river in Goa without consulting local fisherman and even State Fisheries department and go about disrupting fishing activities. And State Fisheries Department has no right to object. Police Inspector Paresh Naik must also re-visit his position here. It is the Constitution of India which is Central government document being passed by Indian Parliament has authorised that States conduct of Fisheries within territorial waters via entry 21 of State List under Article 246. State Fisheries department has full rights to decide on State Fisheries and Central Government has bussiness to mess around State Fisheries by allowing Tourism PNJ boats in fishing spaces. This is indeed ridiculous position held out by Police Inspector Paresh Naik that needs not just re-visit but reversal. His decision support to Tourism boats PNJ is wrong and will have negative unpredictable public consequences.

4. Duty of Police, Captain of Ports, Director of Tourism was to stop PNJ boat operators after 18.06.2025 letter banning Tourism PNJ boats every year from operating three months of June, July and August when fishing is sole livelihood option for fishers of Candolim. All the authorities has failed. And what the two Police Inspectors hinted at subtlety yesterday at Calangute Police Station was to push fishers into silence. This is indeed unfortunate situation unfolding for reasons not too difficult to guess. This situation will change as Fishers assert and organise themselves in Unity and Solidarity in times to come.

Yesterday at the Calangute Police Station fishers asserted that they cannot give guarantee of Peace at the Jetty unless there is Justice to Fishers, No more obstructing obstruction to fishing, no more obstruction to fishing boats at Jetty, No more insensitive Police attitude towards fishers.

Yesterday 16.16.08.2025 evening at around 7.00 pm when fishers visited Sinquerim Jetty illegality of PNJ boats was in full flow. PNJ boats which were supposed stop their boats at 5.30 pm went on till 7.30 pm. Coastal Security Police Inspector simply did not answer calls of Candolim fishers. Indeed very pathetic State of affairs currently.

Police Inspector Paresh Naik had spoken differently on 08.08.2025 during similar meeting in his cabin without Police Inspector, Coastal Security, Ribandar. That day he said Publicly "I will support traditional fishermen. Public Support is with them". Lots of waters have flown in Sinquerim river and with that flew words of PI's words of support to Fishers in Sinquerim river. At least his words are stuck in memory and soon to be history, yet not forgotten. 

It is true that fishers have public support and this blogpost is evidence of such public support. 

Police call to Candolim fishers

On 16 August 2025 at 12.00 noon J.G.D. Fernandes Fisherman from Candolim is again asked over the phone to report to Calangute Police Station.

There are conflicting interests between the fishers and tourism PNJ boat operators in Sinquerim river. Fishing Jetty that is de facto taken over by tourism boat operators.

Tourism PNJ boats are parked in the river creating enormous obstacles to fishing activities.

PNJ boats carry on passenger pleasure trips inside the Sinquerim river thereby jeopardizing fishing in the river.

At the Sinquerim Jetty PNJ boats bang and dash against fishing boats causing damage and even capsize of fishing canoes. Jetty is crowded with Tourism PNJ boats making it impossible for fishers to operate their canoes from the Sinquerim Jetty.

Fishers have been complaining to the authorities over the past three months. In response Director of Fisheries issued letter dated 18.06.2025 to the Director of Tourism with copy to Captain of Ports directing to stop movement of Tourism PNJ boats from operating in Sinquerim river from 01 June to 31 August every year.

Inspite of this directive neither the Tourism department nor the Captain of Ports has taken any steps to get the Tourism PNJ boats off river till 31 August. 

Fisheries within 12 nautical miles is a State subject with entry number 21 under Article 246 of the Indian Constitution. Directions of the Director of Fisheries to stop Tourism PJN from operations cannot be over ruled by tourism department and Captain of Ports. Both these departments are working against fishers interests in Sinquerim river thereby insulting the Fishers of Candolim.

Question before all of us is: should Tourism be allowed to ruin Goa's traditional occupations like fishing? This is exactly the controversy in Sinquerim river currently and answer is still eluding.

Kindly call up Calangute Police Station on the landline number 0832 227 8284 and demand an update on the situation. We have received information that Coastal Security Police is going to visit Calangute Police Station for a meeting with Candolim fishers on 16.08.2025.

In the meantime J.G.D. Fernandes, fisherman received phone calls on 14th and 15th August 2025 from calangute police asking him to get his canoes out of Sinquerim river. Fernandes has refused to do so. We will know as to how things are unfolding by late afternoon on 16.08.2025. Stay connected.

Police call to Candolim fishers

According to just received information fisherman from Candolim J.G.D. Fernandes is called at the Calangute Police Station on some complaint from tourism boat operators in Sinquerim river. Fishermen has been demanding ban on tourim boats patronized by tourism department and Captain of Ports causing nuisance to fishermen in Sinquerim river. There are several complaints on this before director of Fisheries, director of Tourism, Captain of Ports, Secretary ( Tourism), Secretary ( Fisheries), Secretary (Ports), Chief Secretary, Chief Minister and even Governor of Goa. 

None except the Director of Fisheries has acted to alleviate sufferings of fishers in Candolim river. Director of fishers has directed ban on tourism boats from 01 June to 31 August but Captain of Ports hasn't moved to cancel the permissions for reasons not know and allowed wreckage of Fisheries and livelihood of fishers in Sinquerim river.

Do call up Calangute Police Station on 0832 227 8284 and know the latest unfolding events directly now.

Two Candolim fishers injured in brawl with tourists

According to Information just received two locals from Candolim fishing on Sinquerim Beach were griviously injured when group of 15 Indian tourists assaulted them today 01 August 2025 at around 2.00 pm. Injured are taking medical treatment. Police have reached the crime spot. Please share with media.

PNJ tourism boats in Sinquerim river troubles fishers

Photo shows troubled fisherman J.G.D.Fernandes at Sinquerim Jetty with limited space for his fishing cannoe against PNJ Tourism boats

With active blessings of Goa Government administration tourism PNJ boats are creating troubles for fishers at Sinquerim Jetty. PNJ tourism boats have hijacked Jetty that was constructed for the purpose of fishing during the monsoon season. 

PNJ boats have proved to be intruders in smooth functioning of fishing businesses of small scale fishers in Sinquerim river.

It is also learned that Candolim fishers has filed complaint before Captain of Ports, Director of Fisheries and Director of Fisheries. It is learned that few vested interests outside and inside the Administration at Tourism Department and Captain of Ports are colluding in the process of impoverishment of fishing communities in Sinquerim river affecting fishers from Candolim, Sinquerim, Nerul etc.

It is a need of the hour that Goa Government administration stop its hostile attitude towards fishers of Sinquerim river and do away with all the PNJ tourism boats from June 01 to August 31. 

It is leaned from RTI documents that tourism department that most of these PNJ Boats are without valid permissions from tourim department functioning with backing of office of Captain of Ports.

It is learned that All Goa Small Scale Responsible Fisheries Union (AGSSRFU) has applied for appointment with States top authorities viz Governor of Goa  Chief Minister of Goa and State Chief Secretary to resolve this issue as the PNJ tourism Boats are permitted through central government law : Inland Vessels Act.

People of Goa are watching as to when insult and harrasment of fishers will stop.

Harrasment to Fishers at Campal beach

 09/06/2025

To,

The Director,

Department of Tourism,

Government of Goa,

Panaji, Goa

Subject: Your letter dated May 26, 2025 inviting for meeting on June 03, 2025

Sir,

We received your letter reference no.7/8(361) Complain and Griviences/2025/1164 dated 26/05/2025 with subject of Issue raised by All Goa Small Scale Responsible Fisheries Union about Harrasment and Loss of Access for Fishers at campal Beach, Panjim. Letter invited us for the meeting to be held on June 03, 2025 at your office on 2nd floor, Paryatan Bhavan, Patto, Panaji, Goa.

We were not able to participate in the above meeting as this letter signed by Deputy Director of Tourism on behalf of Department of Tourism and served on us through Indian Post reached us one day after late on June 04, 2025.

We do not understand if this was done deliberately from your office or that it was due to inefficient functioning of the Indian Post. For whatever may be the truth we got excluded from the meeting and we are very upset about it.

You are kindly requested to call meeting afresh with invitation to us well on advance.

Awaiting your initiative.

Thanking you.

Yours sincerely,

Shaila D'mello

President

Laximan Mangueshkar

Secretary