Daijiworld Media Network- Panaji

Panaji, May 6: Goa’s delicate marine ecosystem faces a growing crisis as rampant and illegal harvesting of shellfish, especially clams (locally known as tisreo), continues unchecked in the Chicalim Bay area, despite strict guidelines by the Goa State Biodiversity Board (GSBB).

Local conservationists and villagers warn that the plundering, largely by outsiders, is threatening the last remaining pockets of biodiversity — with several species like green mussels and windowpane oysters already on the verge of local extinction.

At low tide, the otherwise tranquil bay turns chaotic as hundreds of people — arriving on two-wheelers and in cars — descend on the habitat, carrying away bucket-loads of clams. “Last weekend, it was madness. Over a hundred people were seen gathering clams. Some even used metal tools to dig deep, causing irreversible damage,” said Johnson Stephen, a local animal rescuer.

While traditional harvesting of shellfish is a vital seasonal livelihood for coastal villagers, the indiscriminate extraction by non-locals for recreation or profit has sounded alarm bells. Stephen noted that some are seen walking away with 5-litre buckets or even half-full rice bags brimming with clams.

The GSBB’s 2022 guidelines were meant to protect this fragile ecosystem. They restrict shellfish harvesting to locals living within a 5 km radius and only permit hand-picking between November and May — the rest of the year being the breeding season. It also mandates that only clams above 3–4 cm in size be picked, and prohibits digging with tools.

Despite these regulations, the enforcement mechanism remains weak. Chicalim Villagers Action Committee president Cyril Fernandes said, “Biodiversity Management Committees (BMCs) have been authorised to issue ID cards to eligible local harvesters. But the implementation has been slow.”

He added, “This is no longer just an ecological issue — it’s about protecting local livelihoods from insensitive extractors who treat it as a weekend adventure.”

The Chicalim BMC chairman, Rui Manuel Araujo, admitted the challenge. “Crowd control is difficult. We’re coordinating with the fisheries department and coastal police. We’re also pushing for Chicalim Bay to be declared a Biodiversity Heritage Site, which will give us greater regulatory authority.”

Past episodes of overharvesting in nearby Sancoale and Chicalim had led to the collapse of oyster beds, with even juvenile shellfish being wiped out. Araujo added that efforts are underway to issue ID cards to traditional fisherfolk and roll out awareness on using nets of prescribed size and shape to ensure baby clams are left untouched.

As the shellfish famine deepens in Goa, conservationists urge urgent action to enforce sustainable practices and protect what remains of the state’s once-thriving marine biodiversity.