Fishing community in Goa on strike; protests CRZ notification

Fish markets and fishing jetties across the state wore deserted look as the fishing community struck their work protesting the draft coastal regulation zone (CRZ) notification.

The all India strike call, given by the National Fisherworkers Forum (NFF) evoked tremendous response in Goa, which has fishing as third largest economic activity after tourism and mining.

NFF resident Matanhy Saldanha said that all the stakeholders of fishing industry cooperated in the strike.

"Trawler owners, fish merchants and fish vendors participated in the strike," he said.

Saldanha said that the central government should now atleast realise about tremendous dissident against it because of the draft CRZ notification.

The activity at Malim jetty, tucked across Mandovi river overlooking the capital city of Panaji, came to a standstill since morning.

Mandovi Fishermen Welfare Co-operative Society chairman Menino Afonso said that those trawlers which have already ventured in the sea have been asked to stay there and not to return to the jetty.

"Those who are at the shore have been asked not to go today," Afonso said expressing his full support for the agitation.

Afonso heads the co-operative society at one of the biggest jetties in the state, which has 300-odd trawlers venturing from it.

The strike will continue for a day and fishes would be available only by tomorrow, Saldanha added.