the goan I network
MARGAO
Frozen fish stacked in corrugated boxes have hit the wholesale fish market, 10 days after the 61-day ban on fishing came into force from June 1 and ahead of the monsoon season.
While fresh fish from across the border continues to find its way to Goa’s wholesale fish market as usual despite the ban coming into force along the country’s west coast, right from Gujarat to Kerala, frozen fish from fish processing units located within and outside the state finds its way to the markets.
Frozen fish may still not be popular with fish-loving Goans as yet, but it gives an option to customers to choose between fresh and frozen fish. Be it mackerels, squids and other varieties of fish, these are all available in the wholesale fish market. The frozen fish is available in boxes weighing 10 kilograms. For instance, a 10-kg box of mackerels was available at a price ranging between Rs 1300 and 1800 depending on the size of the fish.
Sources in the know said that Goa plays host to a number of food processing units at the Cuncolim Industrial Estate and elsewhere in the state. While most of these units are fish exporting houses, many prefer to dispose of their stock at the wholesale fish market during the monsoon.
A wholesaler trader, however, pointed out that frozen fish has not yet become popular amongst local Goans, other than the restaurant and hotel owners. “Locals basically prefer fresh fish, which is hard to come by during the monsoon. Frozen fish is being sought by eatery and restaurant owners,” informed a trader.
Meanwhile, even as trucks bringing in frozen fish have hit the wholesale fish market, fresh fish transported in insulated vehicles continues to find its way to the wholesale fish market.
Traders pointed out that though the uniform ban on fishing has come into force across the western coast, from Kerala to Gujarat, fishing by traditional canoes continues off the Kerala coast, maintaining the supplies to the Goa market.
It could not be ascertained as yet how many trucks have imported fish from the country’s east coast, especially from the states of Odisha, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu till date since the ban on mechanized fishing in the state came into force from June 1.
