VASCO
In a significant decision favouring fisherwomen operating at Vasco market, Mormugao Municipal Council Chief Officer Agnelo Fernandes has issued an order revoking trade licenses issued to wholesalers selling fish.
The order also enforces a ban on sale of fish except at the dedicated fish market.
The dispute between traditional fisherwomen operating in the Vasco fish market and wholesalers selling fish outside the market was heard by the MMC chief officer on February 28 and the matter was to be decided on Monday afternoon.
Speaking to the media, Fernandes said he had passed the order that selling fish beyond the designated station outside the fish market would not be not allowed.
“We are building a fish market and all should sell fish there only. Vendors selling fish outside the market have no provision for drainage and this is causing public nuisance. They don’t have NOC from the fire and health departments.”
“They were given licenses in 2015, but have still not produced necessary documents for the last three years and it is a violation. I have revoked the licence of the wholesalers,” said Fernandes.
In the order, Fernandes stated that “all others also running business of sale of fish other than the designated market areas are also directed to stop the same. The municipal inspectors of MMC (are) to enforce complete ban on the sale of fish, except at the dedicated fish market.”
Hailing the decision, Vasco Fish Market Association President Caridade Pereira said she was extremely happy.
“The MMC has finally taken the right step favouring the fisherwomen selling fish in the market. We are happy as the Chief Officer has passed an order that no one is allowed to sell fish on roadside or outside the fish market in Vasco. We thank the CO for this decision,” said Pereira.
For almost four months, Pereira and other fisherwomen had been complaining that they had no customers in the market after wholesalers outside the market were selling all types of fish at wholesale rates.
Pereira had complained to the MMC stating wholesalers, who were earlier selling only big fish purchased in huge quantities for hotels and suppliers, had begun selling all types of fish at wholesale rates even for small quantities. Pereira and other fisherwomen had been pressing for a complete ban on the sale of fish outside the fish market.
