Expressing inability to crack down on illegal fishing activity in the River Zuari at the earliest, Fisheries Minister Vinod Palyekar, on Thursday, said that his department doesn’t have required mechanism at its disposal. Palyekar, however, said that necessary direction has been given to coastal police and Coast Guard to tackle illegal fishing activity.

He said that the department at the most has the power to either suspend the licence issued to trawler owners or stop their fuel subsidy if they are found carrying out illegal fishing. “We don’t have required mechanism. At present, there is only one patrolling vessel. We are also not able to get qualified manpower,” he said interacting with the media in Panaji. He said that proposals are put up before the government to procure two more vessels, however, due to some reason it has been delayed.