Fisheries minister assures immediate action

Panaji: Extending his support to the state's traditional fishing community, fisheries minister Avertano Furtado, said, "I will make sure they get justice."
Referring to the notification issued by the directorate of fisheries, prohibiting bull-trawling and the use of LEDs while fishing, Furtado said a copy of the same has been sent to the coastguard, collectors and concerned fishing societies.He assured action on Thursday itself, the same day the notification is printed on the official gazette.
Fishing is a natural process, industrial fishing in Goa will not do, said AAP Goa secretary Valmiki Naik.
He was speaking at the agitation held by the traditional fishermen of Goa in protest of the government's failure to impose a ban on the use of LED lights and bull trawling while fishing.
"What is most dear to every Goan's heart is rice, coconuts and fish. The current ruling government has filled up fields for construction of buildings, thus taking away our rice; they have declared the coconut as grass thus taking away its status and now in a grand finale, they are denying us our fish," he said.
Referring to the use of bull trawlers and LED lights for fishing, he added that any kind of industrial fishing process that affects the natural process of catching fish is harmful.
"I plead with this government not to destroy the Goenkarponn (Goan identity) and come up with a solution to resolve this issue at the earliest," he added.
Fishermen had surrendered their vessels for the agitation held on Wednesday. Nearly 600 canoes and fishing boats blocked the Rivers Mandovi and Sal channel in this protest.