MARGAO:  The Chief Minister, Mr Manohar Parrikar, on Saturday, said that fishermen in the  state should not  carry out fishing rampantly as it has affected the fish breeding.  

Mr Parrikar was  speaking as the  chief  guest on the occasion of  demonstration of  cage culture and  fish  harvesting  held at  Maina-Curtorim.  The  fish farming is done here by Mr Francis Esteibero.

Mr Parrikar said,  "the fishing, using bull nets and mechanised  trawlers, in the deep sea has severely affected the  breeding of fish. The production  has  gone down from 1.09 lakh tonne to  92,000 tonne, and now to 86,000 tonne.’’

He  hoped that the  fishermen  would not greedily  carry out fishing as it has happened in the case of mining in Goa.

Stating furthe tha Goans love  fish and therefore  they never came on the streets even though  it’s prices  increased  heavily, Mr  Parrikar  said, "My government will try hard  to give  fish to Goans at a  reasonable  price.’’  

He  added  that  all the support  required  from the  government  for fish farming in the state will be provided.

As the  minister for  fisheries, Mr Parrikar said that this is an opportunity for him to see how   seriously the fish farming is done in the state.

"Government will formulate necessary schemes for  fishermen  and with some good projects it will also think of  creating employment for the Goans," he added.

He  congratulated  Mr Esteibero for his  efforts in having the  prawn and  fish farming in Curtorim.

Speaking on the occasion,  the Curtorim MLA, Mr Alex Reginaldo Lourenco, said that since  there are more  all time  agriculturists and  pisciculturists  in the Curtorim constituency,  government should encourage them with some attractive schemes.

He also expressed  gratitude to the  department of fisheries for having given its support earlier.

The Navelim MLA, Mr Avertano Furtado, praised Mr Esteibero for showing great interest in pisciculture.