the goan I network
MARGAO
Fish agents operating at the Cutbona fishing jetty have said that they will suffer losses if the Karnataka traders execute the threat to
stop trucks from Goa, saying the ban imposed by the government has already hit the industry badly.
They pointed out that the best solution to overcome the crisis is to set up the fish testing mechanism in the
wholesale market and lift the import ban.
“The government can depute two officials from the FDA, as many officials from the local civic or health body and allow the trucks to enter the wholesale fish market only after receiving a green signal from these officials. Fish that does not pass the quality test should be stopped from entering the market,” stated Azim Shah.
He said that the ban on the import of fish has hit the fish export processing units in the State. “Fish which is processed for export pass through various quality tests. The government should
have relaxed the ban at least for exports since the quality standards are different,”
he said.
Replying to a question, he said that fish that lands at the Cutbona fishing jetty presently goes to fish processing units at the Cuncolim Industrial Estate. “Fish such as tuna, which is not consumed normally by Goans, is sent to Kerala to meet the huge demand,” he added.
“Banning of fish or stopping trucks in Karnataka will not help resolve the fish crisis. What is urgently required is to put in place confidence-building measures, which
include testing the fish by officials right in the market,” he added.
