CANACONA
About 1.5 tonne of freshwater fish have been harvested from the Chapoli Dam in Canacona, while similar aquaculture activities are underway in four other dams in the State.
According to sources, much of the catch of freshwater fish, with some weighing as much as 16-25 kg, has had little demand in the State and is now being exported to other states like Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh where the demand for freshwater fish is high, especially during monsoon.
Sources said the State government has awarded the contract to harvest freshwater fish like Rohu, Katla, Mrigal, Common Carp and Pangasius Sutchi at the dams in Chapoli (Canacona), Anjunem (Sattari), Amthane (Bicholim), Selaulim (Sanguem) and Panchawadi (Ponda).
Due to the ongoing Covid restrictions and non-availability of professional fishermen to catch the fish from the dams, the contractor had to hire 12 professional fishermen from Karnataka and took up the harvesting, beginning with the Chapoli Dam.
When contacted, the fisheries department contractor Deepak Pagi said water at the Chapoli Dam had risen with the early rains, but fishing had been a challenge due to branches from pruned trees getting entangled in their nets.
“Even then, we had a good catch at the Chapoli Dam as compared to other dams,” said Pagi.
A representative from the fisheries department and WRD were present to take note of the harvested fish stock.
According to the weight of the harvested fish, the contractor is expected to pay up for the before being permitted to take the stock from the site.
The government rates for different types of freshwater fish harvested from the dams is Rohu (Rs 35/kg), Catla (Rs 35/kg), Mrigal (Rs 35/kg), Common Carp (Rs 30/kg), Pangasius Sutchi (Rs 30/kg) and others (20/kg).
Pagi said there is presently no market for freshwater fish in the State.
“Goans generally do not prefer freshwater fish and most of the migrants who buy these freshwater fish have left for their home states due to the Covid pandemic.”
“A few days ago, a pickup sent to the Margao market had to return without selling the freshwater fish. Hence, whatever catch we get is directly transported to other states where the demand for freshwater fish in other states is much higher as compared to Goa,” said Pagi.
