Take stern action against fishing ban violators: Minister

Panaji, Aug 6( UNI) Fisheries minister Joaquim Alemao has today directed the district administration to initiate stern action against the canoes fishing in violation of the ban regulations.

''Confiscate the canoes which are fishing by using pourse seine nets during the ban period now underway in the coastal waters of the state,'' the minister told a meeting of the representatives of trawler owners and raponkars at Margao city today.

Several officials including the North and South Goa district collectors besides director of Fisheries Department S C Verenkar and police higher-ups also attended the meeting.

The trawler owners complained that some fishermen were using canoes fitted with 10 HP motors and banned purse seine nets for fishing even as the ban on fishing till August 15 had been in vogue.

UNI BM MAZ NV2055