Local fishermen in Siridao caught three trawlers with purse seines fishing in the Zuari within the 5km limit, on Saturday. The vessels were subsequently brought to shore. The Goa, Daman and Diu Marine Fishing Regulation Act, 1980 and Rules, 1982, mandates that only canoes that carry out fishing activities up to 5km from the coastline. Mechanised fishing vessels, which are meant to be operated in deep seas, are prohibited from fishing in the 5-km zone. The trawlers were from the Vasco jetty and sailed through the Zuari to arrive at Siridao. We found that each of them contained one tonne of fish, Sanjay Pereira, a traditional fisherman from Siridao, said. He was among the many who vented their ire against the government’s poor efforts to curb such practices in the state’s coastal waters despite there being a law in force. Mechanised fishing is not permitted in shallow waters. If the trawlers continue this way, the traditional fishermen will be left with no fish to catch. Strict action must be taken by the fisheries department against such violators. They are meddling with our trade, Pereira said. The trawlers were released after local MLA Francisco Silveira intervened and warned the fishermen on the three vessels not to venture into the 5-km limit again.