Govt launches project to conserve whale sharks, other marine species

NT Reporter

Panaji

In an attempt to boost marine conservation efforts, the state government has announced the highest compensation package in India for fishermen of Goa who cut their nets to free entangled whale sharks as well as all other schedule I marine species, offering Rs 75,000 per incident – significantly higher than similar schemes in Kerala and Gujarat that provide a maximum of Rs 50,000.

Chief Conservator of Forests Praveen Kumar Raghav said the marine wildlife conservation network with whale shark initiative will bring together the forest department, the tourism sector, marine patrol units, and fishing communities.

The initiative aims to address critical threats to marine life, particularly fishing net entanglement, boat strikes, and plastic ingestion.

Speaking at the International Whale Shark Day celebration and project launch organised by the Wildlife Trust of India and Oracle in collaboration with the Centre for Environment Education, and fisheries and forest departments, Forest Minister Vishwajit Rane on Saturday emphasised the state’s commitment to creating a model that other coastal states could
emulate.

Rane announced that the compensation would extend to all Schedule-I species under the Wildlife Protection Act, not just whale sharks.

“I know the loss of losing the net… Give me only 72 hours to release the compensation once the fishermen cut the net to release such species. You don’t worry about how I organise the stuff,” Rane said, addressing concerns about financial hardships faced by fishermen when they encounter these ‘gentle giants’ in their nets.

The minister stressed the importance of building trust with the fishing community.

“The fisherman community has its own issues.  Sometimes they don’t know that if they cut a net the government will reimburse that particular net. They must have that belief that the government will do something. When we are taking up this kind of conservation business, we also must take one step forward to help them,” he explained, highlighting the communication gap that his announcement aims to bridge.

The minister also revealed plans to form a coastal and marine conservation expert committee within 15 days under his chairmanship.

The committee will include researchers, marine conservation experts, NGO representatives, and fishermen community members to develop a coastal and marine conservation action plan.

“It has to be politically less driven; it has to be expert driven. Politicians should not be part of these type of policies which have got a lot of research. On Monday, I will put a note to the Chief Conservator of Forest to start the process to form the committee,” Rane said, advocating for science-based policy formulation.

The minister also called for a conclave on marine conservation, bringing together participants from across the country alongside Goan youth and fishermen committees from different regions.

“We want not only to take inspiration from other states, but we want other states to take inspiration from what work we are doing in Goa,” Rane reckoned.