A new beach safety initiative by the government-appointed agency Drishti Marine has run into strong opposition from fishing communities in North Goa. The deployment of a novel floating apparatus named 'Seahorse' has sparked a dispute over permissions and the use of traditional fishing zones.
Fishermen Raise Alarm Over Unauthorised Structure
The conflict erupted when fishermen from Candolim noticed the erection of a jetty-like structure on Tuesday evening and Wednesday. Vincent Fernandes, president of the Candolim fishermen’s association, expressed surprise and immediate concern. Upon inquiry, the fishermen were informed that the Captain of Ports (CoP) had not issued any permission or No Objection Certificate (NOC) for the installation.
"When we asked Drishti personnel at the site, they said it’s for lifesaving activities and they will be keeping jet-skis there," Fernandes stated. He highlighted the procedural lapse, noting that all other watersports operators keep their equipment on the beach and that the fishing community was never consulted. The structure is being placed directly within the designated fishing zone, a move the association strongly contests.
Drishti Marine's Defence: A Lifesaving Innovation
In response, a spokesperson for Drishti Marine described the 'Seahorse' as a first-of-its-kind temporary floating station designed to function as a full lifeguard post at sea. It is intended to keep vigil on four popular beaches: Calangute, Candolim, Miramar, and Baina.
The innovative design involves a platform that, once floated to a location 20 to 30 metres from the shore, can be anchored using four legs, each approximately six metres long, dug into the seabed. Drishti Marine CEO Navin Awasthi emphasized the operational benefit, claiming, "The seahorse will help reduce the response time to emergencies to under a minute, compared to the three to five minutes it currently takes for backup to reach from the beach."
The Core of the Dispute: Erosion vs. Access
Drishti Marine's rationale for deploying the Seahorse points to a growing environmental challenge. The agency cited increasing sand erosion on beaches, which is making traditional lifesaver watchtowers on land increasingly untenable. These floating stations are proposed as a solution, acting as watchtowers at sea that provide lifesavers with a better vantage point to monitor swimmers.
Each unit is equipped to accommodate four to six lifesavers and comes with a jet ski ramp, rescue boards, surfboards, and rescue tubes. However, this argument about safety and erosion has not addressed the fishermen's primary grievance regarding the lack of official permissions and the encroachment into their working area.
The standoff underscores a classic conflict between introducing modern safety infrastructure and respecting the rights and territories of traditional coastal communities. The resolution likely hinges on formal dialogue and regulatory clarity from the concerned authorities.
