the goan I network
MARGAO
Fish became scarce in the SGPDA mega retail market and other markets around Salcete countryside on Thursday as the 15-day ban imposed by the government on import of fish from outside the State came into effect from Thursday.
Only a handful of fish vendors were seen with fish, including shrimps, sole fish and variety of river fish, while most of the stalls in the PDA market were shut for want of fish in the wholesale fish market.
President of the Retail Fish Vendors Association, Felix Gonsalves pointed out that imported fish has not come into the market on Thursday, saying that they will dispose of the stock till it lasts. “Many a vendor has not come to the market since there was no fish in the wholesale fish market. We have put for sale fish which was with us in our stock. We will do business till our stock exhausts or fresh river fish or fish from the rampon hits the market,” Felix said.
That the mega retail fish market went without fish or customers was evident at the adjoining shed housing the fish cutters. In the absence of customers, the fish cutters had a bad day, including a dozen women which clean the fish with the help of the traditional Adorri.
The situation was no different at other retail fish markets across Salcete’s countryside. With the ban on the import of fish from across the borders and the river fish cannot meet the requirements of the fish loving Goans, most of the markets saw a dearth of fish on Thursday.
