With the ‘formalin in fish’ controversy refusing to die down, the Goa government has imposed a 15-day ban on all fish imports into the state until August 3. With the fishing ban in the state to be lifted from August 1, the fish markets will be flooded with locally caught fish. The question that arises is why have only a 15-day ban on import of fish and not a permanent ban?
In the present circumstances, both the locally caught fish and the fish imported from other states, will be available in the fish markets after August 3. It may be difficult for the people to differentiate between the two. This will create a lot of confusion in the mind of fish lovers in the state. Goa is self-sufficient in it’s everyday need for fish provided the export of fish is also banned. It makes very little sense exporting fresh fish from the state and at the same time importing fish from other states which could be laced with formalin. A ban on the export of fish, or even a cap on the quantity of fish exported would be most welcome. Even fish that is not very popular in the state could be exported. It will be an almost impossible task for the FDA to keep a watch on the truck loads of fish that arrives in the state every single day during the very early morning hours.
A permanent ban on the import of fish from other states and a ban on fish export, or even a cap on the quantity of fish exported, would be in the interest of Goans.
ADELMO FERNANDES, Vasco
