Goa Iron Ore Port Vasco Coastal Economy Environment

Goa iron ore mining industry, centred on the Salcete mines in South Goa and transported through Mormugao Port in Vasco, has shaped the state coastal economy for a century. India was the world third largest iron ore exporter in 2010, with Goa supplying a significant share to Chinese steel mills. The Supreme Court-ordered mining ban (2012-2018) devastated 100,000 mining-linked livelihoods while allowing coastal ecology to recover. Fishing cooperatives in Vasco and Sancoale documented the impact of ore barge traffic on fisheries. Goa mining cooperatives now function under the Mineral Development Corporation and negotiate royalty shares with coastal fishing communities. The conflict between mining jobs and coastal ecology continues to shape Goa political economy and cooperative rights movements.