Khariwada jetty repairs commence; fishermen upbeat, expect good catch
BY JOAQUIM GRACIAS
VASCO: The repair works of the Khariwada-Vasco fishing jetty taken up by the Murmugao Port Trust (MPT) is on a war footing as the fishing ban will to an come to end on July 31 and the jetty shall be hub of activity from July 28.
Simon Pereira, president of Goa Fishing Boats Owners Association (GFBOA) informed that, due to the intervention by the Revenue Minister Jose Philip D'souza and the Fisheries Minister Joaquim Alemao the repairs at the Khariwado jetty a long pending demand from the fishing community were taken up by the MPT.
Incidentally the MPT is demanding to shift the fishing jetty from its present location as it is a security threat to the port.
However the locations proposed by the MPT authorities have either not been favoured by the local fishermen or objected by the residents from location identified.
Pereira said that the GFBOA had been demanding repairs of the jetty as it was in a dilapidated condition and caused damage to boats. Hopefully the repairs shall be completed by July 28 as requested by the association.
Ronny D'souza, special advisor to GFBOA stated that the repairs being carried were temporary and shall be not of much benefit to the users of the jetty.
Pereira and Ronny also felt that the MPT should bring about a long time solution and construct a permanent jetty on a location beneficial to the fishermen, that too on mutual agreement of the fishermen and the MPT.
Pereira claimed that it has been a long pending dream of the fishing community.
Pereira and Ronny stated that while the necessary repairs and machine overhauling of boats has been carried and are ready to sail for fishing on August 1, the activity for loading nets, filling tanks with diesel, stocking ration and water for crew shall commence hopefully on July 28 as boat owners face a major problem of crew not arriving on time.
The crew comes from Orissa, Andra Pradesh, Jarkandh and Karnataka. Every boat owner is anxiously waiting for arrival of the crew as some members of the crew move in search of greener pastures.
"Unless the crew arrives the work cannot begin and hopefully we expect the crew to arrive by July 28" , says Pereira.
He further said that the owners of the boats face yet anther problem to fill various verification forms for fresh crew as the process is tedious.
He added that the owners of boats are vigilant and shall not compromise on the nation's security.
The association and boat owners are co-operating with the police and other authorities and the Fisheries Department has been requested by the association to issue Identity Cards to the crew while boats owners are advised to file verification forms with the police.
Pereira also added that, last year the fish catch was average and that this year they expect a good catch. There has been good monsoons and the storm in the sea helps in breeding fish.
The decline in fish has been the cause due of the fishing ban which not been implemented strictly as done this year. Ronny also agreed with Pereira that fishing ban needs to be implemented in spirit and that the decline in fish has also been due to the tsunami.
Fish should be allowed to breed and not killed, expressed Pereira who also claimed that coal and mining residue from MPT washed in the sea settles at the sea bed and effects breeding of fish.
We all are optimistic to have a good catch of solar shrimps at the beginning, mackerels later and in September bigger fishes, added GFBOA president.
A total of 400 trawlers are said to be operating from the Khariwada jetty of which 250 are Pursuiene boats with 30 workers and other fishing boats which require 5 workers on board.
The trawlers are taken all the way to Zuari river and anchored at Rachol, as the conditions at Khariwada during monsoon are not to anchor. However a few boats requiring major repairs are anchored at Khariwado in the monsoons.
Boat owners contacted expressed that the Fisheries Department has issued ban on issuing new licence for trawlers however there is no such ban for canoes which helps some non fishermen get into fishing activities by acquiring canoes with motor licences.
