In Solidarity with Gujarat Small Scale Fishers

 

01 May 2026

Here are some pointers to what I observed with regard to status of small scale fishers in couple of places in coastal Gujarat during my recent short visit to the State.

1. Decline in fishing catch: I got to speak to fishers near Okha Port. Fishers observed decline in fish catch over past few years. As a result many are going on mechnised fishing vessels as crew. However they return to their canoes during June to August monsoon time fishing ban on mechanised fishing. Why decline in fish catch?

2. Line trawler fishing: Gillnet fishers face disruptions in Arabian Sea waters due to line michanised fishing. In this fishing method around 100 fishing trawlers line up deploy their trawl fishing gear and drag seabed together causing huge fish depletion and damage to Marine ecology. After complaints b local affected fishers Government of Gujarat has banned this type of line trawler fishing. Why do trawlers engage in line fishing?

3. Insecurity of fisher habitats: Fishers whose homes are on Government land are in perenial state on insecurity. If fishers offer any kind of resistance and calls for Justice then the first repressive response of the Gujarat State is to carry on demolishing houses of group of fishers tagging them illegal settlers and even decendents of terrorists with links in Pakistan - a marrative that is synonimous with milking cow of political capital of hatred. Houses on the coast are demolished along with the places of worship. It started against Muslims and then got spread to Hindus too. Demolitions by State in Gujarat is sought to be normalized. So far there are three instances of demolitions that were rolled out since 2024: Bhogat Bandar, Navadra Bandar and Hadsad Bandar. While these demolishing were targeted at Muslims the ones at Rajkot were directed to against Hindus though exact castes remains to be investigated. How religion and caste have weaponsed against fishers? Fish has no religion.

4. Okha Port has triggered demolitions of nearby fushing Jetty used by small scale fishers. Along with Jetties religious structures on the coast are also bulldozed. Here is example which occurred on 30 April 2026: https://www.facebook.com/share/v/18N4bSKzpD/ .  Okha Port is prenuptial source of spread of air pollution from its handling of Coal, Bauxite  Limestone etc. Anyone who walks on the road can get her lungful share. Why Okha Port is so careless? Even pesonell from nearby Indian Navy a facing pollution threats and it has got normalized. Terrible?

5. The most formidable threat to fishing communities in and around Okha has been the dumping of Industrial waste in Arabian Sea within Marine Protected site. Multiple pipelines find the way in waters if Arabian sea releasing high temperature industrial waste almost four kilometers inside the Sea. The industrial plant is known as Tata Chemicals Limited is part of larger Tata investment into Tata Salt city - Mithapur. Fishing has taken a toll. Continues disposal of waste has already covered up more than 5 kms of space from the site of industrial plant inside the Arabian Sea Waters. Mangroves destroyed, Corals submerged. More are under massive threat as Tata tragedy aggrevates. The education level of masses here is deliberately kept at mediocre levels for efficient installation of exploitation structures that comes so close to modern day slavery of humans and barbaric tortures nature. Jobs are weaponised against local residents and chimicals are pumped into lungs too. No one is courageous enough to protest and raise their voice except ex-employer of Tata Chemicals - Devrambhai Charan Ghoda, pastoralist with affinity to Gujjars. Devrambhai has been erupting like volcanos against Tatas and have taken major steps to bring this issue to media and government attention including President of India. He has been on indefinite hunger strike recently when police intervened and stopped his tirade. He plans to resume it again at different site - in front of Gujarat State Pollution Control Board, Gandhinagar. Tatas are carrying on absulute mayhem against Marine ecology and proportions might just push vast patch of Sea onto swamp. Brutality of Tatas here is unexplainable. Thinkness of layers of chemical waste on sea bed more than 20 meters over the eight decades. Tatas can donated so much for the good of nations but here in Gujarat they are destroying the same nation they claimed they are building. Tragic Tatas. What's gone wrong with Tata leadership? Why are Tatas behave so insensitive, so arrogant, so brutal to Arabian Sea, marine ecology and fishers who depend on fishing?

6. Health and Education: I found fishers fave the situation of underdevelopment in terms of education and health infrastructure. Maximum education access is standard X. No colleges are in and around in Okha. The sole college exists only on paper in Government records. No government hospitals are around. One that was functioning was shut down few years ago as the disease began to be recorded in hospital records. Doctoring of reviews was tedious process. So most easiest path was sole option: shut it down! What is the hidden intention Gujarat State to keep fishers in this State of illiteracy, poor health and contented ignorance? 

7. River fishing access denied: In Gosabara fishers are stopped from fishing in river at Gosabara. Around 600 fishers are denied access to their traditional fishing river since 2016. River is sought to be demarcated as protected site and site for tourism. This is highly objectionable eco-colonialism and neo-colonialism. Why fishers are treated in this alienating manner?

8. Sea Fishing Permission denied: local fishers at Gosabara are denied permissions for fishing in Arabian Sea from 2016. This reflects deliberate bias in Gurajrat fisheries department functioning. How can this situation be changed?

9. Boat Parking Permission deniad: Local fishers at Gosabara face lots of difficulties due to obstructions created by Fisheries department officials at Porbandar office. Fish Landing permissions are denied at Tukda Gosa, Renewal of license are not done, new registrations are denied. I got to know all this during my visit to Gosabara Boat Landing site. Lethargy and Biases of Gujarat Fisheries office at Porbandar has proliferated problems of SSF and their anxieties too. It was inspiring to witness unity of fishers here! How can we move ahead unitedly and in organise way?

This is the short narrative I share as a mark of Solidarity and call for wide spread unity to Small Scale Fishers of Gujarat, India. 

Sebastian Rodrigues 

General Secretary,

National Federation of Small-Scale Fishworkers (NFSF)

Rampant illegal trawling in Zuari river

05.03.2026

To,

Director of Fisheries, 

Government of Goa,

Panaji, Goa.

Subject: Rampant illegal trawling in Zuari river

Sir,

This is to bring to your attention rampant illegal trawler fishing in Zuari river specially during might time over past one month.

Members of All Goa Small Scale Responsible Fisheries Union and other fishermen on Zuari coast have repeatedly brought this to your attention with phone calls to Fisheries Control room. 

We however are disappointed over continued instances of such illegal trawler fishing in spite of all our phone calls to the fisheries control room.

Kindly initiate stringent actions against such marauding trawlers immidiately as their act also constituted Contempt of Court in Goa Bench of Bombay High Court judgment in All Goa Small Scale Responsible Fisheries Union VS Government of Goa.

Thank you.

Yours truly,

Shaila D'mello 

(President)

All Goa Small Scale Responsible Fisheries Union 

Laximan Mangueshkar

(Secretary)

All Goa Small Scale Responsible Fisheries Union 

Contempt of Court orders in Writ Petition No. 370 of 2024 through illegal mechanised fishing at Zuari river mouth and call to demarcate 05 kms specified area

 25.10.2025

To,

The Chief Secretary, 

Government of Goa, 

Panaji, Goa

To,

Director of Fisheries, 

Government of Goa 

Panaji, Goa

To,

Captain of Ports,

Government of Goa, 

Panaji, Goa

To,

Superitendent of Police, 

Coastal Security, 

Panaji, Goa

Subject: Contempt of Court orders in Writ Petition No. 370 of 2024 through illegal mechanised fishing at Zuari river mouth and call to demarcate 05 kms specified area

Sir/Madam

Late night of 23.10.2025 at 10.18 pm around 10 trawling mechanised boats carried on illegal fishing on very mouth of Zuari river near Dona Paula.

This is the first incident of ineffectiveness of Government machinery to enforce ban on mechanised fishing beyond 05 kms distance from the shore after 16.10.2025 joint meeting between All Goa Small Scale Responsible Fisheries Union (AGSSRFU) with Director of Fisheries, Senior officers of Captain of Ports and Senior police officers of coastal security to thebranks of Deputy Superitendent and Police Inspector review implimentaion of High Court directions in Writ Petition 370 of 2024.

We believe that such Violations continue to repeat because your office has never implimented one of the important directions of the High Court in Writ Petition 370 of 2025 (All Goa Small Scale Responsible Fisheries Union VS Government of Goa) that states "Patrol boats of the Fisheries department as well as Coastal Security Police must be stationed at the Dona Paula Jetty and not only at Vasco-da-Gama, because the illegal purse seine fishing takes place mostly at Siridao/Dona Paula bay area."

In view of continues non-implinentation we shall be constrained to file Contempt of Court petition against your office for non-implinentation of the above directions and all other directions contained in the mentioned court ruling where in your assurance is recorded in the last para of the order as "the minutes of the meeting dated 01.03.2024, which learned Additional Government Advocate assured that the same would be scrupulously followed and in view of the positive standof the respondents that they will act on the suggestions made by the petitioners as recorded in order, accepting such assurance which the respondents shall follow in letter and spirit, the petition is disposed of."

Kindly accept this as an advance notice of our intention to go for Contempt of Court proceedings in near future against your office due to failure to impliment High Court directions.

Further in the above context we request you to demarcate Specified area along Goa's entire coastline and keep us continuesly updated on steps initiated.

Thanking you.

Yours Truly,

Shaila D'mello 

President

Laximan Mangueshkar 

Secretary

Review meeting on illegal mechazised fishing held

On 16.10.2025 review meeting was held at the request of All Goa Small Scale Responsible Fisheries Union (AGSSRFU). Senior officers of the Fisheries Department including the Director, Deputy Director, staff entrusted with enforcement at Sea of Fisheries department, Senior officers of Captain of Ports, Deputy Superitendent of Police Coastal Security, Police Inspectors of Coastal Security Police Stations at Panaji and Harbor were present at the meeting. 40 members of AGSSRFU participated at the monitoring meeting. The High Court Judgement was circulated to the officials by AGSSRFU and point by point review was taken up.

It was revealed during discussion that there was move to take canoes of SSF on hire by Fisheries department to raid illegal trawlers and purse seiners. This move was rejected by fishers during the meeting itself. Authorities are held responsible to provide for the raiding boats.

It's important to recall High Court petition between All Goa Small Scale Responsible Fisheries Union V/s Government of Goa, Writ Petition 370 of 2024. The directions issued in the Judgement are as follows:-


“i) Regular Patrolling by the officials from the Fisheries Department and Captain of Ports especially in the Mandovi and Zuari River.



ii) Patrol boats of the Fisheries department as well as Coastal Security Police must be stationed at the Dona Paula Jetty and not only at Vasco-da-Gama, because the illegal purse seine fishing takes place mostly at the Siridao/Dona Paula bay area.



iii) The Patrolling should also be after sunset as mostoften purse seine fishing takes place under the cover of darkness.



iv) The fisheries department to procure the required number of boats for patrolling and the officials of fisheries department and captain of ports should also be assisted by the coastal police. 



v) On detection of illegal purse seine fishing by trawler or vessel, the vessel should be seized and prosecution initiated against the vessel operator/owner in accordance with sections 18 & 21 of the Goa Daman and Diu Marine Fishing Regulation Act, 1980.



vi) The Respondent nos. 2 to 4 and 7 should establish an effective monitoring, control and surveillance system to control and detect the illegal purse seine fishing, the system could be by equipping the patrol boats used by the coastal police and fisheries department with radar systems to track vessels used in purse seine fishing. 


vii) All fishing boats registered with captain of ports and fisheries department should have compulsorily fitted with GPS Tracking devices, so that their movements can be regulated and monitored. 



viii) The Captain of Ports and Coastal Police should maintain a register to record the number of rounds taken while patrolling.”


It was great that this meeting even took place. That meeting left us with important lessons on level of preparedness and eternal needed to defend Coastal aquatic systems with small scale fishers (SSF) as Frontline defenders, as Custodians, as Stewards.

Complaint against Illegal trawling in Zuari river

ALL GOA SMALL SCALE RESPONSIBLE FISHERIES UNION 

190, Nauxim, Tiswadi, Goa 

15 January 2025

To,

Director of Fisheries, 

Government of Goa,

Panaji, Goa

To,

Superitendent of Police,

Coastal Security,

Panaji, Goa

To,

Captain of Ports,

Government of Goa,

Panaji, Goa

Subject: Complaint against Illegal trawling in Zuari river

Madam/Sir,

There are instances of illegal trawling in Zuari river over past four days from 8.00 pm onwards till beyond mid-night.

This is in complete violation of Fisheries laws and directions from Goa Bench of Bombay High Court in writ petition no. 2844/23 and constitute Contempt of Court against your office.

Our calls to Fisheries department control room revealed that their patrol boat is in break down mode and not available for duty. So there is resumption of break down of law and order in Zuari river and trawlers are allowed to run berserk within specified 5 kms from the shore.

All Goa Small Scale Responsible Fisheries Union strongly condemns this Fisheries violations.

Kindly take immediate note of this and initiate appropriate action. 

Thanking you.

Yours sincerely, 

Shaila D'mello

President

Laximan Mangueshkar

Secretary

State- Trawler nexus to destroyed Goa's fisheries

It has just come to our attention the following:

1. Five trawlers are carrying on illegal trawling in Zuari river today December 30, 2023 from 8.30 pm by switching off their lights.

2. The complaint is lodged with control room of the Fisheries department over the phone. 

3. Response from Fisheries Control room is of helplessness to do anything as there is no staff available to take the patrol boat from Panjim Jetty to Zuari river.

4. All the above indicate that there is match fixing between trawlers engaged in illegal night fishing and the Fisheries administration: nexus of corruption. 

5. Fisheries Minister of Goa is found to be incompetent to deal with the illegal trawling even in Zuari river most probable due to hefty bribes that Fisheries department receives. 

6. All Goa Small Scale Responsible Fisheries Union calls for complete overhauling of Fisheries administration in Goa in the light of trawler loot of Zuari for over one month that both destroys marine ecology and deprives small scale fishers of their livelihood support system based on fishing.

Illegal trawl fishing yet again!

Today December 19, 2023 from 10.00 pm 06 trawlers are carrying in illegal bottom trawling fishing in Zuari river from Siridao to Odxel withing two kilometers from the coastline. 

Fisheries Control has been informed but no action has come through so far.

Corruption in the Fisheries department in Goa has prevented effective patrolling system of Goa's coastal waters specially Zuari river.

Fisheries administration looks paralyzed and incapable of any effective action. Major overhaul is needed urgently.

Goa Fisheries Minister promotes fishing black economy?

 Goa Fisheries Minister promotes black economy with standardized bribes from Trawlers?

According to just received information at 9.30 pm today December 14, 2023 five trawlers are carrying illegal fishing between Odxel and Dona Paula Coast. Last night they were at Nauxim-Cacra Coast plundering Zuari river.

According to the information received Fisheries Minister has accepted Rs.25,000/- from each trawler to allow illegal fishing. This works to 05 Crore rupees for 200 trawlers alone. 

Fisheries Minister has started parallel black economy in Goa to destroy Marine ecology and livelihood of legally permitted small scale fishers in Coastal waters.

Fisheries Minister sure must be sharing the bribe kitty with his political bosses. Time to kick him out has arrived!

Fisheries Control has already been informed but it is controlled by the super corrupt political dispensation in place.

Sharing of this message is advisable.

Illegal trawling in Zuari river again!

According to just received reports fours trawlers are carrying on illegal fishing in Zuari River right now on December 12, 2023 at 8.50 pm at Nauxi-Cacra coast.

Phone calls to the Fisheries Control room has turned futile as they went without answering. We are not sure exact amount of bribe received by various officers of Fisheries department including Goa Fisheries Minister Nilkant Halarnkar do this as to trigger collapse Zuari river gillnet fishery being protected by traditional small scale fishers in their capacity as stewards of the Sea.

Call up and register your complaint too with Goa Fisheries control room now at 08322425263.

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.

Monsoon Fishing ban violations by trawlers

 June 25, 2021

To,

Director,

Department of Fisheries, 

Government of Goa,

Panaji, Goa

Subject: Monsoon Fishing ban violations by trawlers

Madam,

It has come to our attention that daily trawlers are carrying on illegal fishing in Zuari river during night time due to the negligence of your office in Patrolling.

On June 23, 2021 night one trawler got entangled with underwater sunk ship while trawling at night time in Zuari river. Four other trawlers that were operating from Vasco were stranded in rescue operation to free the entangled trawler. Next day June 24, 2021 this incident was shared by audio on WhatsApp by former vice-president of Old Cross Fishing Co-operative society at Kharewada Prem Dabolkar under Article 19 of the Constitution of India: Right to Freedom of Speech and expression.

However it has come to attention that one trawler owner Tulsidas Kukalkar who owns 'Netra' trawler and notorious record holder for illegal fishing damaged electricity and water connection of Prem Dhabolkar at Vasco. We had complained to your office about Tulsidas Kukalkar' illegal trawling in Zuari river in the past but there is no action from your office that we know of.

We want to convey to you that because of inaction from your office Fisheries in Goa are getting criminal fall outs.

With hope that you will act,

Yours sincerely,

Roque Menezes

President

All Goa smalll scale Resoonsible Fisheries Union

190, Nauxim, Bambolim, Goa.

For media report on this subject click here.

.

Law and Order problem due to Illegal Trawler fishing in Zuari river

Date: February 27, 2020

­For Urgent Action

To,

The Director,

Directorate of Fisheries,

Panjim, Goa

To,

Superintendent of Police (Coastal Security)

Panjim, Goa

Subject: Law and Order problem due to Illegal Trawler fishing in Zuari river

Madam/Sir,

Kindly attend to the ongoing rampant illegal trawler fishing in Zuari river from Sao Jacinto Island upto Siridao coast. This fishing using destructive fishing gears (trawl nets) has began on January 16, 2020 (Goa Opinion Poll Day and Feast of St. Joseph Vaz) during day and night. Several telephonic messages complaining against trawlers were conveyed at the Fisheries Control Room by many fishermen from Odxel, Cacra, Nauxim, Bambolim and Siridao.  Some calls were relayed to Coastal Security Police Station at Harbour for action by Fisheries department. However it has been observed that trawlers has continued to carry on illegal and destructive fishing within any respect to law and order. Yesterday afternoon (12.15 pm) over 16 trawlers and (05.30 pm) 18 trawlers was seen carrying on illegal fishing in Zuari from St. Jacinto Island upto Siridao-Agassaim destroying river bed as well as livelihood of small scale fishers of Zuari river.

Goa’s State laws are stringent against illegal and destructive fishing trawler practices within 5 kms from the coastline and inside rivers. However enforcement of these laws is absent or pathetic due to lack of commitment from your office even though your salaries are paid by Public. The irresponsibility from your office has led violation of Goa State fisheries Laws, violation of aims and objectives of Coastal Security Police, violation of Article 5.16 of Voluntary Guidelines for Securing Sustainable Small-Scale Fisheries in the context of Food Security and Poverty Eradication (SSF Guidelines), violation of Article 6.18 of Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries (CCRF). India is signatory to SSF Guidelines, CCRF and has committed to their enforcement via Articles 53 & 54 of the National Marine Fisheries Policy 2017. It is also violation of Sustainable Development Goals (SDG): 14 Life under water. Your office has ignored these so far and it is a serious public concern and disastrous consequences in Zuari river.

This situation has led to the increasing public suspicions that Fisheries department and Coastal Security Police is actually promoting destructive fishing practices such as Trawling in Zuari River for the reasons best known to you. Fisheries department has even awarded those responsible for destructive trawling with LED lights during ‘Aqua Goa’ mega fish festival 2020 held on February 13^th-15^th at Panjim.

You are called upon to (1) carry on 24 hours surveillance of Zuari river from Odxel coast and permanently stop further illegalities by trawlers. (2) Assess damage done to marine ecology due to trawling in Zuari and recovers damages from trawler owners. (3) Compulsorily install GPS transponders on all trawlers in Goa so to make them visible online in real time at Global Fishing Watch. (4) Withdraw above mentioned award given to those engage in destructive fishing.

Thanking you,

Yours sincerely,

 Sd/-

Maggie Silveira

President, Goa State & National Council Member of National Platform of Small Scale Fish Workers (Inland)

Illegal fishing continues in Zuari

Date: 09^th April 2018

To,

The Minister of Fisheries,

Government of Goa,

Secretariat, Porvorim, Goa

To,

The Secretary (Fisheries)

Secretariat, Porvorim, Goa

To,

The Secretary (Home)

Secretariat, Porvorim, Goa

To,

The Director,

Directorate of Fisheries,

Panjim, Goa

To,

The Police Inspector

Agasaim Police Station,

Agassaim, Goa

To,

The Superintendent of Police

Coastal Security,

Police Headquarters,

Panjim, Goa

To,

The Deputy Superintendent of Police

Coastal Security

Ribandar, Goa

To,

The Collector (North)

Panjim, Goa

To,

The Secretary (Education)

Secretariat, Porvorim, Goa

To

The Captain of Ports

Panjim, Goa

Subject: Illegal Fishing in River Zuari

Madam/ Sir,

There are fresh spate of illegal fishing by trawlers and mini purse seine boats in Zuari river as under:

1.    Every night there is illegal fishing by trawlers and mini purse seine boats between 8.30 pm to 3.30 pm. Number of boats range between two to eight.

2.    On 30/03/2018 at 7.30 am thirty five mini purse seine boats carried on illegal fishing. It was Good Friday Holiday.

3.    On 29/03/2018 at 6.00 am eight mini purse seine boats carried on illegal fishing in Zuari.

4.    On 28/03/2018 at 10.00 pm eight trawlers carried on illegal fishing in Zuari

All the four cases mentioned above indicate failure of surveillance system of the Fisheries Department as well of Goa Police. We call upon you

1.    To immediately tighten up the security measures and stop ongoing illegalities.

2.    Efficient co-ordination between police and Fisheries department.

3.    Involve Goa University, Colleges, Schools and other educational institutions in Goa to create awareness about ethical fishing and protection of rivers from purse seine and trawler fishing which is ecologically dangerous.

Thanking you,

Yours sincerely,

Maggie Silveira

President, Goa State

Rohidas Andrade

Convenor, Bambolim Unit

Sanjay Pereira

Convenor, Cacra Unit

Soccorro Braganza

Convenor, Siridao Unit

Anthony Cardozo

Convenor, Curca Unit

Sitaram Pereira

Convenor, Odxel Unit

Milind Palkar

Convenor, Nauxim Unit

Ms. Kalpana Diukar

Co-convenor, Odxel Unit

Chandrakant Lotlikar

Secretary, Siridao Unit

Hanuman Dias

Co-convenor, Odxel Unit

Honu Divkar

Co-convenor, Odxel Unit

Deu Kankonkar

Secretary, Nauxim Unit

Yeshwant Shirvoikar

Co-convenor, Odxel Unit

Manguesh Sawant

Co-convenor, Odxel Unit

Amir Mardolkar

Co-convenor, Nauxim Unit

Francis Coelho

Co-convenor, Nauxim Unit

Jaya Kuttikar

Co-convenor, Odxel Unit

Jonu Shirvoikar

Co-convenor, Odxel Unit

Ms. Sheila D’mello

Co-convenor, Cacra Unit

Ashok Kukalkar

Co-convenor, Odxel Unit

Ganashyam Diukar

Co-convenor, Odxel Unit

Uttam Martins

Co-convenor, Odxel Unit

Rohit Hadkonkar

Co-convenor, Bambolim Unit

Sanju Diukar

Co-convenor, Odxel Unit

Chandranath Rosario

Co-convenor, Cacra Unit

Vijay Sawant

Co-convenor, Cacra Unit

Ragunath Sautodkar

Co-convenor, Cacra Unit

Mahadev Andre Rosario

Co-convenor, Nauxim Unit

Laxman Mangueshkar

Co-convenor,,Siridao Unit

Illegal fishing by trawlers and purse seine boats in Zuari River and call to involve students

Date: 24^th April 2018

To,

The Speaker,

Goa Legislative Assembly,

Secretariat, Porvorim, Goa

To,

The Minister of Fisheries,

Government of Goa,

Secretariat, Porvorim, Goa

To,

The Secretary (Fisheries),

Government of Goa,

Secretariat, Porvorim, Goa

To,

The Director of Fisheries,

Panjim, Goa,

To,

The Superintendent of Police (Coastal Security), Police Headquarters,

Panjim, Goa

To,

The Deputy Superintendent of Police (Coastal Security), Ribandar, Goa

To,

The Police Inspector,

Agassaim Police Station,

Agassaim, Goa

To,

The Leader of the Opposition,

Goa Legislative Assembly,

Porvorim, Goa

To,

MLA,

St. Andre
Constituency

To,

MLA,

Santa Cruz Constituency

To,

MLA,

Talegao Constituency,

Subject: Illegal fishing by trawlers and purse seine boats in Zuari River and call to involve students

Madam/ Sir,

In spite of our repeated intimation to your office illegal fishing by trawlers in Zuari River continues. Here are latest trawler details: Daily between 8.30 pm to 4.00 am in the night time 4 to 5 trawlers regularly carry on illegal fishing. Then on last Sunday 22/04/2018 between 4 to 5 trawlers carried on illegal fishing during day time twice, in the morning at 8.30 am and in the night at 9.50 pm. Trawler “Netra” is one of the repeat offenders and few trawlers are without latest registration numbers from Department of Fisheries.

Here we share latest mini purse seine details: One boat carries on daily illegal fishing Zuari using banned purse seine fishing net from 5.30 am to 9.00 am and 3.30 pm to 5.30 pm.

We have noted that there is nil co-ordination between Coastal Security Police and Fisheries department and as a result illegal fishing which is also ecologically dangerous is thriving in Zuari river. You are requested to pay immediate attention to this problem and solve it. Your neglect may lead to situation going out of control and total collapse of law and order as well as collapse of fisheries administration in Zuari as it was on 30/03/2018 when 35 mini purse seine boats carried on illegal fishing without any hindrance from the authorities which we have already informed to Fisheries department as well as to Coastal Police via our letter dated 09^th April 2018. 

So you are requested to take identify and penalize offender trawlers and mini purse seine boats as well as take punitive action against responsible officers.

We further request you to involve students and faculty of Goa University and other educational institutions such as BITS Pilani Goa Campus, Collages, Higher Secondary schools etc in tackling this problem as Coastal Security Police as well as Fisheries department has proved to be insufficient and inefficient. We suggest the following pedagogy to engage with Students of above cited institutions:

Ø Explain nature of Zuari River with rich fish diversity back by existing studies

Ø Food Security provided by Zuari river to fishermen and fish consumers human and non-human in Goa

Ø Introduction to sustainable, ecological and ethical fishing practices such as Gillnet fishing, Pagel, Stakes, Rampon etc and general threats to it.

Ø Prevalent law regulating fishing in Goa involving Directorate of Fisheries and Coastal Security Police

Ø Success and Failures of Directorate of Fisheries and Coastal Security Police in tackling illegal fishing by Trawlers and Mini-purse seine boats in Zuari river

Ø Role of Students, Teaching Faculty and Public in tackling illegal fishing in Zuari in the face of repeated failures of Fisheries department and Coastal Security Police – Group discussions

Ø For more details on dynamics of Zuari river fishing refer to field reports and letters at folder “Fishing” at our  blog www.bharatmukti.blogspot.in

Ø Collation generated ideas and Publication of Reports by Department of Fisheries and Coastal Security jointly.

Ø From the Academic Year 2018-2019 launch long term collaboration of Directorate of Fisheries, Coastal Security Police and Education Institutions in Goa to protect and defend River Zuari ecology from illegal fishing.

Should you need our assistance then we will be glad to do so in any possible way for the sake of River Zuari, its ecology and sustainable and ethical fishing practices in Goa.

Thanking you,

Yours sincerely

Maggie Silveira

President, Goa State

Rohidas Andrade

Convenor, Bambolim Unit

Sanjay Pereira

Convenor, Cacra Unit

Socorro Braganza

Convenor, Siridao Unit

Sitaram Pereira

Convenor, Odxel Unit

Milind Palkar

Convenor, Nauxim Unit

Ms. Kalpana Diukar

Co-convenor, Odxel Unit

Anthony Cardozo

Convenor, Curca Unit

Chandrakant Lotlikar

Secretary, Siridao Unit

Hanuman Dias

Co-convenor, Odxel Unit

Honu Divkar

Co-convenor, Odxel Unit

Deu Kankonkar

Secretary, Nauxim Unit

Yeshwant Shirvoikar

Co-convenor, Odxel Unit

Manguesh Sawant

Co-convenor, Odxel Unit

Amir Mardolkar

Co-convenor, Nauxim Unit

Francis Coelho

Co-convenor, Nauxim Unit

Jaya Kuttikar

Co-convenor, Odxel Unit

Jonu Shirvoikar

Co-convenor, Odxel Unit

Ms. Sheila D’mello

Co-convenor, Cacra Unit

Ashok Kukalkar

Co-convenor, Odxel Unit

Ganashyam Diukar

Co-convenor, Odxel Unit

Uttam Martins

Co-convenor, Odxel Unit

Rohit Hadkonkar

Co-convenor, Bambolim Unit

Sanju Diukar

Co-convenor, Odxel Unit

Chandranath Rosario

Co-convenor, Cacra Unit

Vijay Sawant

Co-convenor, Cacra Unit

Ragunath Sautodkar

Co-convenor, Cacra Unit

Mahadev Andre Rosario

Co-convenor, Nauxim Unit

Laxman Mangueshkar

Co-convenor, Siridao Unit

Copy to:

1.     The Vice-Chancellor,

Goa University, Taleigao, Goa

2.     Director,

BITS Pilani Goa Campus, Zuarinagar, Goa

3.     Principal,

Fr. Agnel College of Arts and Commerce, Pillar, Goa

4.     Principal

Fr. Agnelo Higher Secondary School, Pillar, Goa

5.     Principal

Dhempe College of Arts and Science, Panjim, Goa

6.     Principal

Dempo College of Commerce, Panjim, Goa

7.     Principal,

St. Joseph Vaz College, Cortalim, Goa

8.     St. Joseph Vaz Institute of Education,

Cortalim, Goa

9.     Principal,

MES College, Vasco, Goa

10.                         Principal,

Don Bosco College, Panjim

11.                         Principal,

Don Bosco Higher Secondary, Panjim

12.                         Principal,

Santa Cruz Higher Secondary School, Santa Cruz

13.                         Principal,

Nirmala Institute of Education, Panjim, Goa

14.                         Principal,

Our Lady of Rosary Higher Secondary School, Dona Paula

15.                         Principal,

St. Andrews Higher Secondary School, Vasco