PANAJI: With at least 30 per cent of the fishing trawlers still docked at the Malim jetty since fishing ban in the state was lifted on August 1, the jetty is yet to witness a major fish haul this season.

Malim jetty is one of the four major fishing jetties in the state - the other jetties being located at Cutbona, Vasco and Chapora - and most of the fishing trawlers venturing into deep sea are anchored at this jetty.
Mr Sitakant Parab of Mandovi Fishermen Marketing Co-Op Society, which controls the Malim jetty, told ‘The Navhind Times’ that the main reasons for the fishing trawlers not going into the deep sea after re-opening of the jetty on August 1 are incessant rains as well as strong winds and unavailability of the workers who had gone back to their native states like Kerala and Orissa after the fishing ban came into force. They have not returned till date.
“Some of our fishing trawlers have, however, left for deep sea fishing since August 20 after the rains subsided considerably,” Mr Parab said, adding that these vessels are expected back by month-end. “Once these vessels return, we are likely to witness the first major fish haul of the season,” he added, pointing out that these days there is negligible fish landing at the Malim jetty with as few as two fishing trawlers bringing back the catch.
Speaking further, Mr Parab said that the trawler workers from other states are also slowly returning. “In fact, some of the trawler owners had even travelled to various states to bring back the workers,” he concluded.
Meanwhile, traditional Narali Pournima pooja was performed at various fishing jetties around the state on Tuesday, paying obeisance to the sea so that it provides the fishermen with good fish haul this season. The Minister for Fisheries, Mr Joaquim Alemao performed the main pooja to mark the beginning of the fishing season.
Interestingly, the official statistics informs that there has been substantial fall in the state’s fish catch, with its fish export rising comparatively. As per the figures in the year 2007, Goa’s fish catch was 94,255 tonnes, while the quantity decreased to 91,849 tonnes in 2008 and furthermore in 2009 it came down to 83,970 tonnes.
The fish export statistics for Goa over the last three years states that in the year 2007, Goa exported 17,531 tonnes of fish, which increased to 21,434 tonnes in 2008. The next year, fish export from Goa rose to 27,009 tonnes. The fish export outlet for the state is Mormugao Port Trust, which also helps the neighbouring states in the export of their fish catch. Goa presently has 1,150 registered fishing trawlers with 825 of them in operation.  Incidentally, the decline in the fish haul in the state is attributed to various reasons including excess fishing operations and underwater geographical changes along the Goan coastline as well as in deep sea.