Goa fishermen will get radio ID cards before August: Palyekar

All fishermen in Goa would get the Radio Frequency (RF) identity cards before start of fishing season in August this year, Fisheries Minister Vinod Palyekar said here today.

He said the process for collecting data of fishermen would commence from June 1.

Fishing activity in Goa would remain suspended in the coastal state during monsoon season between June 1 and July 31.

The state government had faced criticism for delay in issuing RF cards last year.

"We have initiated the process of issuing RF IDs to the crew members on the trawlers well in advance this year. When the fishing ban comes into force on June 1, we will start the process of collecting data about the crew and ID cards will be issued to them," Palyekar said.

He said all fishermen in the coastal state would get the IDs before they venture into sea again in August.

The minister recalled that department's director Sharmila Monteiro was transferred last year for delay in issuing the cards.

RF cards are renewed annually with fresh data being collected from owners of trawlers about the crew working with them.

"The new cards are issued as crew members usually change every year," he said, adding that around 5,000-6,000 crew members are working on approximate 1,500 trawlers which operate from five different jetties across Goa.

The RF cards were made compulsory in the wake of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks in which Pakistani terrorists had entered the city through sea route.