Photo caption. Mussels were sold like hot cakes in the wholesale fish market, Margao during the season. Photo by Santosh Mirajkar.
Mussels from Kerala flood Goan market
THE GOAN NETWORK
MARGAO: Kerala fishermen made hay as the much sought after mussels virtually disappeared from the Sal River along the course spanning from Velim, Ambelim and Assolna “ once the major suppliers of mussels in the Goan market.
If Goa’s lone wholesale fish market at Margao was flooded with bags of mussels this season, thank the fishermen from Kerala, especially hailing from the Kasargod region, who are believed to have taken mussel culture to a new high. In fact, mussels from Kerala found its way into Goa in a big way via the Mangala Express and Hapa Express running on the Konkan railway route. In fact, these two long distance trains not only brought passengers to Goa from down South, but the much sought after mussels to meet the local requirements.
While the Kerala fishermen and their Karwar counterparts made a fast buck through the brisk sale of mussels across the Goan markets, mussel culture is yet to take firm roots in the riverine areas of Salcete, especially around the Velim, Ambelim, Assolna belt “ rich in marine resources.
Locals from Assolna told The Goan that gone are the days when mussels were available in abundance at the minor jetty at Colleamwaddo. Today, they said it’s difficult to find any mussels around the Assolna-Ambelim belt though the shell fish is still found along the river course in neighbouring Betul.
Says Vinay Tari, a resident hailing from the fishermen inhabited areas of Velim village: “Mussels have almost disappeared from the River Sal bed, especially around the Asssolna-Ambelim belt. Even the availability of mussels in the Betul area has been on the decline over the years. There’s a need to investigate the reasons behind the gradual but certain disappearance of mussels from river Sal."
Tari has demanded to know the steps initiated by the Fisheries department to promote mussel culture in the State. “I challenge the Fisheries department to make public if they have any mussel culture programme and the steps taken to motivate the fishermen," Tari asserted.
When The Goan contacted Fisheries Director Dr Sharmila Monteiro to shed light on the mussel culture in the State, she said the programme will succeed only if the farmers evince keen interest. “In Kasargod, Kerala, mussel culture has taken firm roots. We can support the programme if local farmers come forward and seek assistance," she added.
