5 COLS “ LAST DECK
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MARGAO
The wholesale fish market witnessed uproar in the wee hours of Saturday after a group of retail fish vendors from the PDA retail market protested over the rampant sale of retail fish in the wholesale market.
The protest by the PDA retail fish vendors only threw up a moot question how come retail fish is being sold in the wholesale fish market when the SGDPA is presently collecting the sopo fees departmentally.
Agitated PDA retail fish vendors descended at the wholesale fish market before dawn on Saturday to stop unscrupulous loaders from selling fish in kilograms when the fish traders are mandated to sell fish in the boxes.
The fish traders also extended their support to the beleaguered PDA retail fish vendors on grounds that the illegal retail fish activity in the wholesale fish market is causing further congestion in the market.
The PDA retail fish vendors contended that their very livelihood is at stake since they do not get the business with people flocking to the wholesale fish market to buy fish in retail.
“How are we expected to make a living when we don’t get any business in the retail fish market”, a fish vendor questioned, while demanding that the SGPDA should put a total stop to the retail fish sale in the wholesale fish market.
The retail fish vendors pointed out that the illegal retail fish activity in the wholesale fish market is being carried out not by the fishermen, but by loaders, who carry fish and iceboxes in the market.
“After their work, these loaders try to make a fast buck by selling the fish in kilograms when the fish traders are mandated to sell the fish in boxes”, they contended.
The fish vendors later brought the illegal retail fish activity to the notice of the SGPDA-appointed staff, with a plea to put a stop to the activity forthwith.
One of the staffers assured the retail fish vendors to crack a whip against the illegal retail fish sale in the wholesale fish market provided the fish vendors identify the illegal vendors.
The staff later told the media that action will be initiated against the illegal vendors carrying out retail fish activity in the wholesale fish activity from Sunday.
“Since the illegal activity has been drawn to our notice, we will crack a whip against the illegality provided the fish vendors identify the illegal vendors”, the staffer added.
