Goa government not doing enough to check fish poaching: Congress

The Goa government is not doing enough to stop poaching by fishermen from Maharashtra and Karnataka, state Congress president Shantaram Naik said on Monday.

Speaking to reporters at the state Congress headquarters, Naik also claimed that if sea-fish as a natural resource was not harvested efficiently, the coastal state could head for a fish famine.

"Fishermen are facing the problems of fish poaching by fishermen from Maharashtra and Karnataka. However, the government is not taking steps to prevent such poaching," Naik said.

The Goa government is already contemplating banning of fisheries-related exports in view of the shrinking fish catch along the state's coastline.

Overkill of fish for export and to cater to the hospitality industry in the tourism-oriented state, as well as rising sea temperatures, have resulted in a fish famine of sorts in the waters off Goa, driving prices of locally consumed staple fish through the roof.

Several marine experts have been warning the Goa government about how pollution near Goa's river mouths and in the waters off the state's coastline as well as over-fishing using banned practices like bull trawling and LED fishing, could also lead to fish famine in the state.

--IANS

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