MARGAO
This isn’t 'Swayampurna Goem' the Goa government has been repeatedly talking about in recent times.
Consider this. Traditional fishermen recorded a bumper harvest of mackerel on Benaulim shore on Tuesday evening. They, however, could not encash on the harvest in the absence of marketing avenues and the closure of the wholesale fish market, denying the fishermen a good rate for the catch.
One of the fishermen is believed to have netted around 80-baskets full of medium size mackerel. Other fishermen also posted a moderate to good harvest.
On a normal day, the fishermen would have transported the catch to the wholesale fish market for sale. Citizens from Margao, Fatorda and neigbouring areas, especially office goers, used to lay their hands on the fresh fish netted in the sea before returning home.
But, with the SGPDA shutting down the wholesale fish market under the guise of a High Court order, the traditional fishermen have been left with no option than to stop coming into the market. For, the PDA shuts down the market by 10 am.
Left with no option, the fishermen are forced to sell the fish either at the shore itself or preserve the fish in ice to bring the same to the market the next day.
A fisherwoman Piedade demanded to know how is she supposed to dispose of her mackerel catch when the PDA does not allow the traditional fishermen to bring the fish catch in the wholesale fish market after 10 am. “Why don’t the SGDPA, MMC and other authorities understand the plain fact that the traditional fishermen return with the catch at any part of the day. These authorities and the government should explain how the fishermen should dispose of the catch without marketing avenues if the wholesale fish market is shut by 10 am”, she observed.
Another traditional fishermen said while the closure of the wholesale fish market has denied the ramponkars the marketing avenue to sell their catch, fish lovers have also been denied of the opportunity to procure fresh fish.
