The stakeholders expressed their opposition at a meeting called by Cavelossim Sarpanch Dixon Vaz after the panchayat received a letter from the Tourism Department about the proposed floating platform. Members of the fishing community, along with water sports operators and shack owners, said the platform would affect fishing activities and pose risks to water sports operations.
Dixon said the resolution adopted at the meeting would be sent to the Tourism Director to convey the strong opposition from the local stakeholders. He also said the Tourism Department should instead focus on the growing problem of stray dog attacks along the beach belt, which could harm tourism if not addressed urgently.
Local fisherman Julio Fernandes said they are not against safety measures but warned that the platform would affect the livelihood of traditional fishermen.
Another fisherman, Cornelio Fernandes, said fishing nets placed in the sea move with the water current and could be blocked or damaged by the floating platform.
Jack Vaz added that traditional fishing gear such as rampon, which can drift 500 to 1,000 metres with the current, could get entangled with the floating station and suffer damage. He also pointed to the stray dog menace as a major issue along the Cavelossim beach belt.
