As fishing activity comes to a halt along Goa’s coast during the annual fishing ban, dozens of trawlers from Kharewaddo in Vasco make their familiar journey inland in search of safe shelter. Though this seasonal movement is driven by necessity, the sight of Vasco trawlers anchored in the Zuari River at Ile de Rachol has upset residents of Rachol.
As the Kharewaddo jetty is too small to accommodate hundreds of trawlers, fishermen have long followed the practice of moving their vessels to inland waters at Rachol during the monsoon. However, the arrangement has become a source of tension, with residents objecting to the docking of trawlers in the area.
Villagers allege that workers staying on the vessels create sanitation problems and public nuisance, while also raising concerns about anti-social activities. They also claim that during heavy rain, anchored trawlers trap floating waste and debris, which later drift into nearby water bodies during high tides.
Frustrated by what they describe as years of inaction, Rachol Sarpanch Joseph Vaz has warned that the village may move court if the authorities fail to resolve the issue.
Boat owners refute allegations
Goa Fishing Boat Owners Association President Jose Philip D’Souza strongly denied the allegations, saying the fishing community takes all necessary precautions before docking the vessels and does not leave labourers on board.“We thoroughly clean every vessel before docking. Nets are packed, batteries are removed and the boats are secured. Out of nearly 70 to 80 vessels, only four watchmen remain in the area. We have requested Fisheries Department officials to inspect the site and verify whether any nuisance is actually being created,” he said.
D’Souza said the Kharewaddo fishing community has long suffered due to inadequate infrastructure.
“Our Kharewaddo jetty falls between the jurisdictions of the Mormugao Port Authority and the State Fisheries Department. For decades, we have been caught in this deadlock while our fishermen continue to suffer,” he said.
He added that the existing jetty is dilapidated and too small for nearly 300 trawlers, with collisions while docking causing costly damage. Many families, he said, eventually abandoned fishing and sought work elsewhere.
Proposal for dedicated site
D’Souza recalled that the fishing community was provided with a temporary jetty around 25 years ago. About four years ago, the MPA issued a no-objection certificate allowing the State government to carry out works, but a modern jetty has yet to materialise. The association has now proposed a dedicated site for safely docking vessels during the monsoon. “We do not want to inconvenience anyone. The Rachol villagers are raising concerns and we understand their sentiments. We simply need a safe place to keep our boats,” D’Souza said.
The dispute has left two communities paying the price for a problem neither created. While Rachol residents complain of recurring inconvenience every monsoon, Kharewaddo fishermen continue to wait for a permanent solution.
