Panaji: Marine stranding incidents along Goa’s coast have remained “almost constant” and are generally attributed to natural causes, Forest Minister Vishwajit Rane told the Goa Legislative Assembly on Monday.
Replying to an unstarred question by MLA Yuri Alemao, Rane said that the information available with the department indicated that there had been no significant increase in marine strandings in Goa.
“Marine stranding incidents are almost constant. These incidents are generally attributed to natural causes,” Rane said.
The department has put in place a 24×7 patrolling system in marine areas and monitors vessel movement and illegal activities in coordination with the Coastal Police and other enforcement agencies, he said.
The Forest Department also conducts awareness programmes for local fishing communities and water sports operators in coordination with the Fisheries Department and NGOs working in marine animal conservation.
Training programmes and workshops are organised in collaboration with NGOs, fishing communities, and the Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Department to improve the response to stranded marine animals, Rane said.
For 2026-27, the government has earmarked Rs 1.70 lakh for awareness programmes and Rs 57.46 lakh for the deployment of daily-wage labourers for the protection of marine life.
Rane said Goa has an effective marine stranding response network under the supervision of the Forest Department, involving NGOs, fishing communities and marine rescuers.
The network is aimed at ensuring a timely response and rescue of stranded marine animals along the state’s coastline, he said.
The minister’s reply came in response to questions seeking details of marine strandings, including dolphins, whales, porpoises, sea turtles, seabirds and other marine species, as well as live rescues, post-mortems, identified causes and enforcement action.
