The Centre has proposed an investment of Rs 400 crore towards the revival of the fisheries sector in the State. Union Fisheries Minister Giriraj Singh, who was in Goa on the weekend, said this grant is aimed at making the State, which has a long coast line a ‘fishing hub’ in the country and that Goa has the potential to become the biggest fish exporter in the country. The initial focus of the project would be on cage farming techniques spread across 75 sq kms, he said. Of the amount, Rs 41.47 crore has already been sanctioned to Goa.
The State could indeed do with a boost to its fishing industry but needs to take precautions that this does not result in overfishing and depleting the natural resources. Goa is already saturated by trawlers and any addition of these could have a detrimental effect on the existing resources. In this respect the sea cage farming technique has to be explored and National Institute of Oceanography has recommended that up to 200 square metres can be utilised. If, as proposed, the mining pits in the State can be utilised for cage culture, this would be another welcome initiative. The pits are currently not being utilised for any purpose and converting them into fish farming pits would indeed be acceptable, especially if it will provide fish on the Goan table.
Fish today, though a staple of the local diet, is beyond the means of many people. Will making Goa a fishing hub reduce the price of the fish in the markets? That is what the people want to know. Currently the fish-loving Goan pays dearly for his daily portion of sea food as a large quantity of what is sold in the local markets is brought from other States. Not much of the fish that is caught off the coast of Goa makes it to the local markets. As a result, Goa has been through a period when the formalin used in fish to preserve the catch had cast a huge shadow on the fish that was brought from other States. If the infusion of capital in the sector, as proposed, can reverse this trend and make Goa as major fish exporter, as envisaged, it will lead to a tremendous boost to the sector in Goa. While the stakeholders will revel in this, especially if it also improves the current standards of the landing jetties, will the benefits be passed on to the local consumers?
There are various other issues involved in the fishing industry, including employment that in this sector turned into a sensitive subject due to migration trends. It cannot be overlooked that much of the labour force involved in the fishing industry is migrant labour. Last August, as the annual monsoon fishing ban was lifted, trawlers were unable to go out to sea immediately as the labourers who had rushed off to their home States during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown were yet to return to Goa. The previous July-August there had a little storm on the social media after pictures and videos had gone viral of trainloads of migrants workers alighting at the Tivim railway station and walking towards Mapusa. There were questions raised as to who were these people and why they were coming to Goa until it was explained that these were migrants coming to Goa in search of jobs on fishing trawlers and in sand extraction. While exploring the possibility of making Goa a fish exporting hub, the related issues should also be taken into consideration. In addition, the traditional fishermen and their concerns cannot be left out. These make up a big community in Goa and have often been neglected as mechanised fishing takes over. They too will have to be given their due place in the proposal.