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

Parasailing disrupts Ziari river Fisheries

01 December 2025

To,

Director of Tourism, 

Government of Goa,

Panaji, Goa

Subject: Disturbance to fishing activities due to Parasailing in Zuari river 

Sir,

There is daily disturbance to fishing activities in Zuari river through parasailing activities past one week. On 30 November 2025 Parasailing in Zuari in front of Cacra-Odxel started at 2.30 pm and went on went beyond 7.00 pm at night.

All Goa Small Scale Responsible Fisheries Union (AGSSRFU) is deeply concerned about this infringement and calls upon your urgent attention.

We urge you to detect those involved in this parasailing acts with tourists and stop them from disrupting our fishing based livelihoods any further. Kindlt initiate necessary steps in this direction and intimate the undersigned at the earliest. 

Thanking you.

Yours Truly, 

Shaila D'mello

President 

Laximan Mangueshkar

Secretary

Copy to :

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

2. Superitendent of Police, Coastal Security, Panaji, Goa

3. Captain of Ports, Government of Goa, Panaji, Goa

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

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

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.

DPR for Goa rivers dredging

These are detail project reports (DPR) for rivers in India specially the links https://iwai.nic.in/waterways/dpr-report. These rivers are studied for the purpose of dredging. 

Fishing will be completely destroyed if dredging activities are carried on in rivers. 

In Goa too Rivers such as Chapora, Mapusa, Mandovi, Cumbarjua, Zuari features amongst those whose DPR is completed by Inland Waterways Authority of India.

Fishing communities will loose their livelihoods completely if these projects are realized.

Now is the time to reach out to fishing communities and organise into Unions.

Complaint against Illegal Purse seine fishing in Zuari river near Siridao Coast by cannoe MRF-261-VSG named St. Anthony on 28 December 5.25 am

Date: 31 December 2024

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 Purse seine fishing in Zuari river near Siridao Coast by cannoe MRF-261-VSG named St. Anthony on 28 December 5.25 am

Madam/Sir,

All Goa Small Scale Responsible Fisheries Union wish seeks your urgent attention.

There is fresh incident of violation of fishing laws banning mechanised fishing with 5 kms from the shore. 

On 28th December 2024 at 5.25 am it was detected that cannoe bearing registration number MRF-261-VSG named ST. ANTHONY in Zuari river close to Siridao coast.

You are therefore called upon to immediately take note of this and initiate action as it constitutes violation Goa Bench of Bombay High Court directions in writ petition no. 2844/23

We have video evidence of the violation and if you need we will furnish the same on request. 

Awaiting your action and compliance report to the undersigned at the earliest. 

Thanking you,

Yours sincerely, 

Shaila D'mello

President

Laximan Mangueshkar 

Secretary

Illegal Purse Seine in Zuari River

All Goa Small Scale Responsible Fisheries Union

(AGSSRFU)

Date 17th September 2024

To,

The Director,
Directorate of Fisheries,
Panaji, Goa

To,

Superitendent of Police,
Coastal Security,
Panaji, Goa


Sub: Illegal purse seine fishing in Zuari

Madam/Sir,

This is to bring to your attention that around 20 cannoes carried on illegal fishing in Zuari river at a riverfront stretch from Dona Paula to Odxel. They were noticed and reported to the Fisheries Control Room between 8.00 am to 8.30 am om 15th September 2024.

This is complete collapse of law and order as well as Fisheries administration in the State of Goa.

You are requested to take immidiate preventive steps to ensure that such things are repeated in future.

We will also report this to the Goa Bench of Bombay High Court in WP 2844/23 as violation of the Court directive.

Thanking You,

Yours sincerely,


Shaila D'mello
President




Laximan Mangueshkar
Secretary

Goa University sewarage let in Cacra village and Zuari river

Goa University sewerage near its guest house is flowing open directly into Cacra village and then into Zuari river for past few days. Smelling dirty. Registrar, Vice-chancellor and Chancellor must attend to this immidiately as lower Goa University administration has failed. 

The consequence of this failure is utter treatment of disrespect and insult to Cacra village.

Disgusting situation to say the least.

Monsoon fishing ban violations

24 June 2024

To,

The Superitendent of Police,

Coastal Security,

Panaji, Goa 

To,

The Director,

Department of Fisheries,

Panaji, Goa

To,

Captain of Ports,

Government of Goa,

Panaji, Goa

Subject: Five trawlers carried on illegal Mechanised fishing in Zuari river from 05 June 2024 to 23 June 2024 leading to serious violation of monsoon fishing ban and directions in WP 2844/23 at Goa Bench of Bombay High Court

Madam/Sir,

This is to bring to your attention that mechanised fishing through trawl fishing gear was carried on inside Zuari river from 05 June 2024 to 23 June 2024 from 10.00 pm upto well beyond mid-night at 02.30 am.

Complaints against mechanised fishing are reported at fisheries department control room whenever phone was in working condition but proved futile as no action was known to have been taken against mechanised fishing in violation of law.

You are requested to take urgent note on this breach and introduce night patrolling at Zuari river immidiately.

Please treat this letter as an urgency and take necessary measures to prevent trawling in Zuari river as required by law.

Thanking you,

Yours sincerely,

Shaila D'mello

(President)

Laximan Mangueshkar

(Secretary)

Copy to:

Chief Justice,

Goa Bench of Bombay High Court, Porvorim, Goa

Mechanised fishing reported near Dona Paula Jetty

 07 April 2024

To,

The Superitendent of Police,

Coastal Security,

Panaji, Goa 

To,

The Director,

Department of Fisheries,

Panaji, Goa

To,

Captain of Ports,

Government of Goa,

Panaji, Goa

Subject: Mechanised fishing-Serious matter concerning WP 2844/23 at Goa Bench of Bombay High Court

Madam/Sir,

This is to bring to your attention that mechanised fishing through purse seine fishing gear was carried on within two kilometers from Dona Paula Jetty on 07 April 2024 between 5.30 pm to 6.00 pm.

This indicates that all the measures that Director of Fisheries and Superitendent of Fisheries, Coastal Security has promised in the Court affidavit is not functional as no patrol boat from any of the concerned Governments are seen near Dona Paula Jetty.

You are requested to take urgent note on this breach and take necessary steps to avoid similar incidents in near future.

Thanking you,

Yours sincerely,

Shaila D'mello

President, AGSSRFU

Laximan Mangueshkar

Secretary, AGSSRFU

Copy to:

Chief Justice,

Goa Bench of Bombay High Court, Porvorim, Goa

Illegal mechanised fishing near Dona Paula Jetty

 08 March 2024

To,

Superitendent of Police

Coastal Security

Panaji, Goa

To,

Director of Fisheries,

Government of Goa

Panaji, Goa

To,

Captain of Ports,

Government of Goa,

Panaji, Goa

Subject: Illegal mechanised fishing in Zuari river near Dona Paula Jetty in violation of High Court directions dated January 09, 2024 in WP 2844 of 2023

Sir/ Madam,

Two incidents of mechanised fishing through use of purse seine nets are reported in Zuari river near Dona Paula Jetty on 07 March 2024. The first one at 4.00 am and the second one at 6.30 pm.

No police patrol boat nor patrol boat from Fisheries department intercepted the illegal fishing boats. This is serious lapse in enforcement mechanism and proves that instead of Police and Fisheries department mechanised fishing lobby is exercising their Writ in Zuari river to violate the law of the land that prohibits mechanised fishing within 05 kms from the coast.

We have brought the violation to the attention of Coastal Security Police via their mobile number 7875756073. However we are not updated by DYSP Coastal security if any action has been taken on the matter.

We will report this to the Hon'ble Bombay High Court.

Thanking you,

Yours sincerely,

Shaila D'mello

President, AGSSRFU

Laximan Mangueshkar 

Secretary, AGSSRFU

Copy to:

Chief Justice,

Goa Bench of Bombay High Court, Goa

Deputy Superitendent of Police

Coastal Security,

Ribandar, Goa

Protest against illegal trawling in Zuari

20 Februrary 2024

To,

Superitendent of Police,

Coastal Security,

Panaji, Goa.

To,

The Director, 

Directorate of Fisheries, 

Government of Goa,

Panaji, Goa

Subject: Objections to illegal fishing in Zuari river 

Madam,

Greetings from All Goa Small Scale Responsible Fisheries Union!

We lodge our strong protest against illegal trawling by six trawlers that was carried on on Saturday, 17 February 2024 night from 7.00 pm till mid-night. This is gross violation of directions of Goa Bench of Bombay High Court dated 09, January 2024 and your office is responsible for the same.

Kindly put system in place to avoid any such violations in future.

Thanking you,

Yours sincerely,

Shaila D'mello

(President)

Laximan Mangueshkar 

(Secretary)

Illegal trawling off Nauxim coast

From 8.30 pm today January 08, 2024 three trawlers are carrying on illegal fishing

All the complaints complaints to the Fisheries Control room has not solicitated any crackdown against these erring trawlers. In fact the staff at the control room is behaving in aggressive manner to those who phone to complaint.

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.

When Goa Fisheries department joins purse seiners for Zuari river loot

 When Goa Fisheries department joins purse seiners for Zuari river loot...

Fisheries department today allowed illegal purse seine fishing by three canoes near Dona Paula Jetty on the mouth of Zuari river. Inspite of telephonic complaint to the control room of the Fisheries department there was no action. 

Three canoes carried on their illegal act at 5.30 pm today 06 November 2023 violating section 144 imposed by North Goa Collector due to National Games. From this action it is clear that Fisheries department is biased against Gill nets fishers in its action.

Director of Fisheries had warned the fishermen to such an extent that even the presence of fishing boats on Vaiguinim beach was intolerable and wanted to clear off canoes like bin of garbage with 20 days with ban on fishing.

Now it is clear that Fisheries department allowed illegal fishing to go on at Miramar Jetty thereby confirming nexus between the purse seiners and the department of Fisheries.

At the venue of National Games at Dona Paula only small scale fishers are banned while purse seiners carry the loot with impunity. 

How many people from fishing community are there in Fisheries department who can understand fishing issues properly? 

Goa's great fishing tragedy continues with Fisheries department being active collabotator of fishing loot.

All Goa Small-scale responsible Fisheries Union strongly condemns ongoing loot of Fisheries in Zuari under Section 144 Cr.Pc.

Illegal Trawling detected in Zuari river

It has been detected between 10.00 pm to 10.40 pm today March 12, 2023 that around 10 trawlers are carrying on illegal fishing in Zuari river within one kilometers of Odxel-Dona Paula Jetty shoreline with lights off.

Complaints are lodged at Goa Fisheries Control room but response indicate that staff is absent to put Fisheries patrol boat in waters. Patrol boats is currently tied up in Panjim with Bosun absent. Illegal fishing in the dark of the night therefore is beyond control leading to collapse of law and order in Zuari with massive loot.

Fisheries Minister Nilkhant Halarnkar has to get going in cracking down on Fisheries department- Trawler nexus connected with illegal fishing.