Ban trawlers with motors exceeding 300 HP: Goa Government

Goa Government has urged the Union Government to ban trawlers mounted with motors exceeding 300 horse power from trawling the seabed.
Goa state animal husbandry minister Laxmikant Parsekar, who recently attended the meeting of state ministers in Delhi chaired by Union Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh, said here today that the Goa government has demanded action against trawlers mounted motors with more than 300 HP.
"The issue will be taken up during the meeting of ministers of maritime states which will be held in the capital (Delhi)," Parsekar said, noting that the law allows motors upto 300 HP.
"However, they replace motors with more horse-power due to which maritime resources get affected. We have to face the long term effect of such activity," Goa state fisheries secretary Amjad Tak told reporters, adding that trawlers result in the mass destruction of maritime resources.

"We punish violators according to the law. The state fisheries department is the enforcing agency. Harsher punishment can be worked out for violators by amending the existing act. This issue will be discussed during the maritime states' ministerial meeting," he said.