Digital Goa, July 23 – Ruling and Opposition MLAs questioned Fisheries Minister Nilkanth Halarnkar over an alleged nexus between officials and illegal fishing operators during a discussion on drone surveillance in the Assembly. MLAs alleged that two surveillance boats were deliberately kept non-functional at times in collusion with bull trawler operators. Responding, Halarnkar said 10–15 illegal fishing boats have been seized, their catch auctioned and fine of five times the market rate of the catch is being imposed on them. To strengthen monitoring, drones capable of surveillance upto 20 km will deployed along the coast. Trials for the same have already been held in April-May. Drone footage will aid officials, coastal police, and the Coast Guard in tracking violations within 12 nautical miles of state waters, he said. CM Pramod Sawant called drone deployment move a “futuristic solution”.
