Traditional Fishermen of Goa v/s Fisheries Department. Stats without any Sense.
Times of India - Goa published a report on the increase of Mackerel Catch over the years, provided by Deptt of Fisheries; when the Official data is not available on website.
While TOIGoaNews has released the data of Directorate of Fisheries in this report, the same is missing on the website of the Department, which has data only till year 2020.
Also, how this data has been collated and collected is not mentioned in the report.
While the rise in production of Mackerel is visible straight in the face; the massive decline in catch of other Fishes; like Pomfret, Silver Fish, Sardines and even Prawns by small and traditional fishermen is not mentioned.
Favourable Oceanic Conditions only for Trawlers?
Rise in the catch of Mackerel favours only the processing and exporters, along with Trawlers.
For traditional fishermen, who go out daily, a large catch of Mackerel is too big a burden; because it has to be sold at throwaway price; as the next day, one might land with same !
Mackerel fetches good rate, only when it is a novelty; like till mid of September. When people are craving for it, after the 2 months Fishing ban. Everyone loves Mackerel, then.
After that, when consumers get bored of it (no one wants to eat the same fish, everyday; and Mackerel is considered poor man's fish as it is), the prices drop. Sometimes as low as 20 for Rs.100 .
The Data presented is only as good as it's source and the methodology applied.
In the case of Department of Fisheries #Goa both are highly questionable. And that's why, even the official website does not mention it.
These are the Officials who do not have even updated Canoe figure from 2019 upwards on their official website.
Well it could be presumed that, they do have a figure somewhere, because all new Canoes have to be registered with them.
Extrapolation is the only answer as far as the methodology is concerned. Average out and extrapolate.
All these years, have never seen Fisheries Deptt guys at shore, talking to traditional fishermen and how has been their catch and what's the average.
Even during the peak fishing 🎣 Season of August and September; when Trawlers come as close as 200 metres from the shoreline and take away everything.
They (Fisheries Deptt guys) don't come even when a cry is raised by small and traditional fishermen over the territory infiltration by Trawlers. And there are not one or two Trawlers, they come in trove.
Some LDC from Fisheries Department of #Goa comes, only when he has to certify a New Canoe and it's registration.
Spends less than 5 minutes at shore, carries away at least Two bagful of choicest of Catch that day (they come early morning, that's why) which could feed their family for at least , 15 days; and it goes without saying that, it's not only the fish they carry (No Mackerel, it's for poor people); but also Cash which they don't take at shore, obviously and this something which can be vouched for.
So, how do they collate data of small and traditional fishermen?
Never heard of any such scheme or application or daily report to be submitted?
Trawlers fish with LED Lights all night, from October onwards, along the Northern Coast of #Goa with impunity; and Harlankar and his men act, as if they are blind.
During the peak fishing 🎣 Season, they come right at shore in droves and Harlankar sleeps gingerly!
Have seen the Season, where 150 Kgs Catch of Prawn in one trip was supposed to be low and we used to sad.
Now (Circa 2023) if you get, 150 Kgs, it is a cause of celebration, and SKIP throws a mini party.
Because, Trawlers are taking away everything. Consumer are happy. Harlankar is happy.
SKIP is still living in his ancestral house with tiled roofs, God knows how many years old.
The only upgrades are a LED TV, A Double Door Refrigerator, and a Semi-automatic Washing Machine. That's it.
3 School going kids, who have a long way ahead and He is not getting younger.
The apathy of the Government of Goa towards the aboriginals can be seen everywhere, daily.
But, it is starkly visible in the case of small and traditional fishermen.
An outcast in their own home, in their own backyard. And no one cares.
Tom-tomming the Data of Fisheries Dept; The Data which no one knows, how it is collected, what is the methodology; forget about verifying it; is the way of responsible Journalism in Goa, where access to the “Power” can get you a “good bite” and livelihood. Well, it pays to be a “Journalist” of Times Of India, surely.
Whatever the “Master” has said, present it, verbatim, without applying your own brain, with few comments like "favourable Oceanic Conditions"; while the whole world knows about the rise in Ocean temperatures.
Amazing, Times Of India Goa!
Traditional Fishermen don't work for 61 Days during the Monsoon ban.
If the weather does not permit, it gets extended sometimes to another 20 odd days.
And then, after that, there are "rough seas" and "unfair winds" all through the year. Add another 20 odd days.
From October onwards, we don't go out in the Sea on Monday and Thursday; because Hindus don't eat Fish in those days.
That's like 8 Months and 8 days in each month. 64 More days of No Work.
So, 100 + 64.
Then there are other festivals like Ganesh chaturthi, Shankasthi etc.
Add another 20 odd days. So, that's 184 Days out of 365.
Now, this does not involve, "Sick Days" of either "SKIP / Pilot" , Motor Breakdown days (Motor has to be ferried all the way to Panjim by Transport for repair), or the Canoe repairs.
Even discounting the above...
The Window of Opportunity for a small and traditional fishermen in Goa to earn a livelihood, is just about 185 days out of 365 Days a year.
So, for almost half of a year, HE is UNEMPLOYED.
And in the rest of the days, he is at the mercy of Trawlers, LED Fishers and his "luck".
Very easy going profession, some Journalists celebrating the success of Fisheries Deptt of Goa would say.
The traditional fishermen, once the "Poster Boys" of #Goa and the "Point Men" are now at the mercy of Nature, + Those who are hell bent on degrading nature, + The apathetic and Impotent Officials of Fisheries Department, and those who should put their stories out being on ground.