GOA ENVIRONMENT FEDERATION Vs. STATE OF GOA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) BY this petition, which is being treated as a Public Interest Litigation, certain issues were raised wherein all the citizens of the State of Goa are concerned, inasmuch as they pertain to protecting, preserving and conserving certain vital species of fish, which provide a cheap source of proteins and also the rights of traditional fishing communities, which are dependent upon fishing for their day-to-day livelihood, and to properly regulate fishing. The main grievance of the petitioner is that during the breeding season of certain varieties of fish between June and August, the fishing activity especially mechanized boats and trawlers ought to be stopped, so as to enable the fish to breed during the said breeding season, so as to conserve the same on a sustainable basis.

(2.) THIS Court had, by an order dated 6th July, 2000, directed the Director of National Institute of Oceanography, to file an affidavit with the material available as to the breeding season of fish off Goa Coast and the estuaring areas, and the ban period regarding fishing, so as to help proper breeding of fish and conserve the same.

(3.) IT appears that earlier, as far as the State of Goa is concerned, the fishing ban used to be from 1st June to 24th July, every year, and in the State of Kerala the ban is from 15th June to 29th July. As far as the State of Karnataka is concerned, the ban is from 1st June to 31st August, the State of Gujarat on the western coast, does not have any fishing ban. As far as the State of Maharashtra is concerned, it appears that recently a decision has been taken to ban fishing from 10th June, till 7th August each year during the monsoon season.