The State Fisheries department has sought details from the counterpart in neighbouring Maharashtra about the alleged illegal LED fishing by three Goan trawlers in the territorial waters of that state. There were reports that three trawlers registered with our department were caught carrying out illegal LED fishing in Maharashtra so we have written to their fisheries department to share the details including the panchanama report if at all the violations have taken place, said a senior officer of the department. The officer said that even after receiving the report it is not certain under which law action can be taken against the trawlers as the Goa fisheries department has no jurisdiction in the territorial waters of that state. In November 2017, the Centre had banned bull trawling and LED light fishing in the exclusive economic zones (EEZs) that is 12 nautical miles beyond the territorial waters of Goa. And within the territorial waters, the ban was already implemented by Goa government prior to the ban brought by the Centre. A meeting of the trawler owners associations and traditional fishermen’s association was convened on Monday along with department officials and enforcement agencies at the fisheries department in Panaji where the traditional fishermen confronted trawlers owners over the same alleged violations that are said to have taken place in Maharashtra. The Goa-based Coast Guard was also invited formally to the meeting however, they failed to turn up hence the department has decided to seek their appointment and meet the Coast Guard officials along with traditional fishermen and trawler owners to work out a plan to strictly implement LED fishing and bull trawling ban order issued by the central government in EEZs. According to reports, there were agitations held in Maharashtra near Malvan coast against Goan trawlers after they were caught allegedly fishing with LED lights by fishermen of Maharashtra. The traditional fishermen have urged the department to initiate action against trawlers carrying out LED fishing so as to prevent a conflict between the fishermen of Goa and Maharashtra. They have also urged to ban the trawlers from carrying equipment and materials used for LED fishing. We have asked traditional fishermen to give the list of equipment which they feel can be used for LED fishing, and the same list will be given to trawler owners asking them why they would require such equipment on their vessel. We will ask the Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute to study the opinion of both the sides and then we will take into consideration the recommendations made by CMFRI, the officer said.