Panaji/Colva: As Goa’s 61-day annual fishing ban ends on Friday, the state’s mechanised fishing sector is set to resume operations amid mounting challenges, with boat owners grappling with a shortage of migrant crew, high diesel prices, pending subsidy reimbursements and inadequate infrastructure at fishing jetties.The annual fishing ban, enforced from June 1 to July 31 to protect marine life during the breeding season, ends on Aug 1. However, industry representatives said many vessels may remain docked.All Goa Purse Seine Boat Owners Association president Harshad Dhond said not a single large purse seiner is expected to venture into the sea immediately due to the delayed arrival of migrant workers.“Operations from the Panaji jetty are unlikely to begin for another 15 days for purse seine boats,” Dhond said. “Many labourers travel from Odisha and Jharkhand, and recent heavy rains have disrupted their movement. Without crew members, large vessels simply cannot operate.”The industry is also reeling from a sharp rise in diesel prices triggered by the West Asia conflict earlier this year. Bulk diesel rates climbed from Rs 89 to Rs 138 per litre in April, forcing fishermen to operate through May before the fishing ban began in the hope that prices would stabilise by the new season.“If we return without a good catch, we may not even have enough money to buy diesel for the next trip. Many boat owners are struggling to sustain operations,” said Goa Boat Owners Association chairperson Jose Felipe D’Souza. He also alleged that diesel subsidy reimbursements from govt remain pending, adding to the financial strain.Infrastructure shortcomings continue to affect fishing operations, especially at the Vasco fishing jetty. Boat owners said around 250 vessels use the jetty, but only about 10 can berth at a time, forcing others to wait offshore while their highly perishable catch deteriorates. They also cited inadequate landing facilities, the lack of cold-chain infrastructure, unfinished sanitation facilities, and potholes that collect stagnant fish water, creating unhygienic conditions.Preparations are under way at the Cutbona fishing jetty in Velim, where workers loaded nets and fishing gear while others carried out engine checks and repairs.Trawler owner Savio D’Silva said he is in Odisha to bring back his workers and is uncertain whether operations will begin in the first week of Aug because of rough weather. Another boat owner, Hector D’Costa, said unsafe sea conditions may delay his return to fishing until the second week of the month.Meanwhile, the directorate of health has begun screening workers at fishing jetties in coordination with the fisheries department.Fisheries director Shamila Monteiro said screening facilities have been set up at fishing jetties and health checks have already commenced wherever fishing crews have arrived.
