the goan I network
MARGAO
Exactly a week after the Centre ordered a ban on LED fishing and bull trawling in the Indian Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) with immediate effect, local fisheries authorities have still not moved into the state jetties to implement the ban till date.
Sources pointed out that neither the Fisheries department officials have made their presence felt at the jetties to execute the ban nor have the State Fisheries department dispatched the Centre's order to the fisheries associations across the State for implementation of the ban on LED fishing and bull trawling.
When The Goan contacted the president of the Cutbona Boat Owners Union Savio D'Silva to shed light on the execution of the Centre's order, he merely said that the mechanised boat owners have only read the LED fishing ban on the print and electronic media.
"Our Union has till date not received any formal order or intimation from the Fisheries department vis-à-vis the implementation of the Centre's ban on LED fishing and bull trawling," Savio said.
He, however, pointed out that information coming from the boat owners revealed that the ban has also not been implemented in neighbouring Maharashtra till date. "Our information revealed that mechanised vessels fitted with LED lights have been venturing out in the sea from some of the points in Maharashtra. This only goes to indicate that there's no uniform ban on LED fishing along the entire coast," he added.
Given that the time is ticking and the government may soon implement the Centre's ban on LED fishing and bull trawling in letter and spirit, mechanised boat owners are looking into various options including challenging the order in the court of law.
Sources in the know said that many boat owners are believed to have sought legal opinion to ascertain whether the government can order a ban on LED fishing when there's no scientific study conducted by any of the agencies till date to prove that fishing with LED lights can spell doom for the marine resources.
The Centre had on November 10 order imposed a ban, prohibiting the use or installation or operation of surface or submerged artificial lights/LED lights, fish light attractors or any other light equipment with or without generator on mechanised fishing vessel or motorised fishing craft for trawling, purse-seining and gill netting operations in the Indian EEZ beyond territorial waters.
The order will be binding on all fishing vessels and their supporting, supply and auxillary vessels operating in the Indian EEZ from the day of issue of this order.
Govt will enforce ban only after issuing notification: OSD to Fisheries minister
MARGAO: The government will enforce the ban on fishing with LED lights and bull trawling only after issuing a notification specifying the number of items the fishing vessels will be banned from carrying while venturing out in the sea.
The official file in this respect has been moved by the Fisheries department for vetting by the government.
Officer on Special Duty (OSD) to Fisheries Minister Vinoda Paliencar, Durgadas Kamat told The Goan on Thursday that though the Centre has ordered a ban on fishing with LED lights and bull trawling with immediate effect, the government is keen in issuing a notification to that effect banning carrying of certain items such as LED lights, generators, etc on board the vessels while venturing out for fishing. "We want to implement the ban after due process of law. The department has moved an official file to issue a notification, which will now come to the Fisheries minister for approval," Durgadas said, while saying the ban will be enforced by the government may be from next week.
BOAT OWNERS' SAY
The mechanised boat owners have only read the LED fishing ban on the print and electronic media and that the Union has not received any formal order or intimation from the Fisheries department
The ban has also not been implemented in neighbouring Maharashtra till date
Mechanised vessels fitted with LED lights have been venturing out in the sea from some of the points in Maharashtra
Mechanised boat owners are looking into various options including challenging the order in the court of law
