For Tabular presentation visit the link below: https://bharatmukti.blogspot.com/2019/03/report-of-illegal-fishing-in-zuari.html
Observations: 1. Coastal Security Police has refused to shoulder burden of illegal fishing in Zuari river saying that it is not their primary duty as per media reports. 2. Most illegal fishing in month of February 2019 was carried on by Trawlers while there was one incident of illegal fishing by purse seine boats. 3. 30 incidents of illegal fishing reported in February 2019 involving 374 boats of which 372 are trawlers. In January 2019 there were 15 incident of illegal fishing involving 152 boats of which 151 was trawlers. 4. Intensity of illegal fishing by trawling in Zuari river has doubled from January 2019 (151) to February (372). There is progressing deterioration of law and order situation in Zuari river due to illegal fishing by trawlers in 2019 within 5 kms from the coast where in trawl nets as well as purse seine nets are prohibited from use as per prevailing law – Marine Fishing Regulation Act 1980. 5. Such large scale violation is leading to destruction of fisheries in Zuari river due to destruction of river bed reefs by use of trawl nets. 6. There is need to carry on estimate of damage caused by trawling to Zuari river bed ecology during first two months of 2019 and take effective measures to enforce total ban on trawling including impounding to offender trawlers under section 18 of the Goa, Daman, and Diu Marine Fishing Regulation Act, 1980. 7. Primary duty to maintain law and order at Sea is with Fisheries department under section 4(2)(c) of the Goa, Daman, and Diu Marine Fishing Regulation Act, 1980. The capacity of Goa Fisheries department in this context of law and order is in completely damaged state. This needs drastic turn around.
