Talpona fishermen are awaiting action by the state authorities against bull trawling by their counterparts of Mhalpe, Karnataka despite highlighting the issue around 45 days ago. Following reports of bull trawling within 2-3 nautical miles of Goa’s waters, a meeting was organised last week by Akhil Goa Kshatriya Pagi Community, former Canacona MLA Isidore Fernandes and fisheries department officials.
Fernandes pulled up the fisheries department for not acting against Karnataka fishermen who are using bigger trawlers which is affecting the livelihood of local fishermen. This incident first occured on November 25 last year. “When our poor Pagi community are suffering, how can we sit quiet?” the former MLA said, and assured the fishermen that their problems will be redressed within eight days
He said that the fisheries department should have intercepted the Karnataka fishermen trawlers who are violating the 12 nautical miles limit set for them for fishing. He also said that the patrolling boat is non-operational near the Talpona coastal police station for over a year now and assured to get it repaired. Others who spoke and were present were Olencio Simoes, Janardhan Bhandari, Divakar Pagi, Ratnakar Dhuri, Anup Kurtarkar and others.
During the incident in November last year, 25 high-speed big fishing boats were found fishing illegally in Goan territory near Talpona, and were intercepted by fisheries department personnel assisted by Coastal police under police Inspector Navlesh Desai. Five fishing nets worth Rs 3 lakh and some fish were attached by the authorities.