For the first time in Gujarat, the state Fisheries Department is to collaborate with the Home Department by pressing Sagar Rakshak Dal personnel into service to monitor the movement of fishing vessels in the deep sea.

Six years after the Gujarat Legislative Assembly passed the Gujarat Fishing Act, 2003, the Fisheries Department is finally implementing on the Act which specifies keeping a close watch on the fishermen fishing offshore.

In September, the Fisheries Department roped in nearly 140 retired Army jawans for preparing a logbook of fishermen in the deep sea at important ports.

Arun Kumar, the Fisheries Commissioner, Gujarat, said, “The Fisheries Department requires 257 Coast Guard personnel to keep a vigil on fishermen. We have started the process of recruiting retired Army jawans on contractual basis at main ports like Mangrol, Jakhau, Mandvi, Porbandar, Veraval, Jafrabad and Dholai.”

The newly recruited jawans will keep tab on the movement of fishing vessels by preparing a logbook, he said. Kumar further said, “The log book will contain details of arrival and departure timing of the fishing vessels. It will help the Coast Guard and the Customs Department to keep watch on them. Earlier, this work was done by the Customs.”

He said, “Of the 102 landing centres in the state, around seven are the main ports. The security guards will be appointed on contract basis, with a salary of Rs 6,500.”

When asked, why it took long to implement the Act, he said, “It takes time to streamline every task. We had applied for the security guards and we are working on it.”

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