the goan I network
PORVORIM
While trawlers from other jetties in the state set sail on Day One of the fishing season on Wednesday, trawlers at the Mandovi jetty in Malim did not have such luck as many workers were yet to arrive from their native places.
Speaking to The Goan, President of Mandovi Fisherman Marketing Co-op. Society Ltd Francis D’Sousa stated that around 265 trawlers operate from the Malim Jetty and most workers on these trawlers hail from Odisha, Karnataka and Jharkhand.
“Last year, most workers returned from their native places by July 25, on account of which it was possible for some trawlers to sail out to sea on the first day of the fishing season on August 1,” said D’Souza.
“However this year, not even 10% of the workers have returned so far and as a result, no trawler sailed into the sea in the wee hours of July 31.”
“The weather is not bad at present and as soon as workers return, fishing activities will begin from the Malim jetty,” said D’Souza.
Responding to a query on the sale of fish, D’Souza said most fish like mackerel, seer fish, pomfrets, prawns, etc are unloaded at the Malim jetty and sold in the local market.
“No formalin or other chemical is applied to fish at the Malim Jetty. Fish which is not being consumed by Goans is exported to other states. When trawlers sail into the sea, they get all varieties of fish. Hence, trawler owners are forced to export fish which has no demand in Goa.”
“But if the government decides to impose a ban on fish exports from Goa, then fishing will become an uneconomical activity and trawler owners will have shut down their business operations,” said D’Souza.
