MARGAO
Smiles lit the faces of traditional fishermen along Salcete coast on Saturday as their hunt for the solar shrimp in the choppy waters of the Arabian sea netted good catch of the prized prawns.
In fact, the traditional fishermen from Colva, Benaulim and Varca started the new fishing season with a bang by returning to the shore with a bumper catch of the prized solar shrimp.
The Goan understands that a kilogram of solar shrimp was procured by the wholesale fish agents for a rate, ranging between Rs 100-110.
The fishermen who had ventured into the sea for the first time on Saturday taking advantage of the improved weather conditions and bright sunny weather did not return home disappointed. In fact, they country made motorized canoes brought to the landing points solar shrimp, in varied quantities, with some content with a ton of the prized shrimp, while the most fortunate ones returning with a catch amounting to 1.5 ton and more.
Some of the fishermen thanked and praised the Almighty for the good catch of the shrimp and fish on Day one of the fishing season.
In fact, the Colva and Varca beach belt, which had in the past played host to domestic tourist visitors, witnessed hectic activity as the motorized canoes returned home around noon with good catch of the solar shrimp.
Varca emerged as the fishing land point on Saturday as fishermen from Benaulim were left with not option than to land at the Varca beach given the rough sea conditions in Benaulim.
Given that the most of the motorized canoes were heading to the Varca coast, the fish agents also set up their procurement base at the beach.
Similar was the situation at Colva beach, with dozens of motorized canoes, which had ventured out in the sea on Saturday morning, returned home with the prized solar shrimp and other variety of fish.
A fisherman, Glorio Fernandes, told The Goan at Varca that the local fishermen have netted bumper catch of the prized solar shrimp along the coast.
“We could not go out for fishing in the last three days because of bad weather. Today, most of the fishermen went out only to return with a good catch,” he said.
He added, “Though the season started late, the start is good. No fishermen has returned back empty handed as they have all netted moderate to bumper catch.”
At Colva, a couple of fishermen said they have netted good catch of the shrimp.
Fisherman Cajie said his two canoes have returned back with bumper harvest.
Similar sentiments were echoed by fisherman Brian, who praised and thanked the Lord for the bumper catch.
With the conditions in the sea further improving on Saturday, the traditional fishermen are expected to take maximum advantage of the situation before the mechanized fishing vessels start the fishing season on August 1.
