Goa: Marine enforcement wing to check illegal fishing, receives administrative approval

PANAJI: The proposal to set up a permanent independent full-fledged marine enforcement wing to patrol territorial waters and keep in check illegal fishing activities including LED fishing, has received administrative approval up to the level of the minister for fisheries, director of fisheries Dr Shamila Monteiro stated.
Pointing out that existing officers and staff find it challenging to implement legal provisions and take action against violators of illegal fishing practices, the directorate proposed the enforcement wing with 58 staff including Superintendent of fisheries, inspector of police, police sub inspector etc.
Monteiro submitted to the high court that a proposal has also been sent to the government of India under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) to sanction the purchase of five patrol vessels for the fisheries department and seven patrol vessels for the coastal police, to conduct patrolling in the territorial waters of Goa.
The high court is hearing a public interest petition filed by Goa Foundation seeking directions to state and central government to implement their own orders prohibiting LED lights during fishing.
There are approximately 891 mechanised fishing boats, 1790 motorised canoes and 290 non-motorised canoes registered with the directorateof fisheries, which also has approximately six landing centres/jetties and 32 fishing ramps and approximately 2900 fishing vessels in Goa, Monteiro submitted adding that Goa’s coastline of 104 km stretches from Pernem to Canacona and a 10,000 sq km continental shelf.
The HC has stated that the marine enforcement wing will go a long way in ensuring effective implementation of laws and regulations relating to fisheries.
Imposing the ban on LED fishing and bull trawling is “vital to the needs of the ecology and non-effectively implementing it is incredibly harmful" the high court stated.
“This imposes a strain not only on the ecology but also on the legitimate interests of the fishers who obey the law and the ban. Therefore, establishing a permanent independent Marine Enforcement Wing will ensure that such pernicious activities are stopped and do not continue clandestinely,” the division bench stated.
It added that such a wing could also address the issues of rampant unlawful sand mining that “poses a serious threat to the rivers in the State. Thus, such a wing should be established without much delay”.
Thw HC also asked the State and concerned departments to expedite the decision-making process regarding setting up of the enforcement wing, particularly since the Director of fisheries highlighted its necessity to implement the ban effectively.