A fisherman collects the catch of solar shrimp. Captured by : File photo/The Goan
MARGAO
The stage is set for the much-awaited annual hunt off the Goa coast for the prized Solar shrimp, which is in high demand in the Japanese market.
Traditional fishermen, however, have their fingers crossed over the rate for the solar shrimp as they gear up to begin fishing in the new season. Reason: The traditional fishermen, besides the boat owners, say they have no idea whether they will get a good rate for the shrimp this season.
In fact, they are banking on the fish buying agents, who are into the business of buying the shrimp and transporting it to the fish processing units in Kerala, to unveil the solar shrimp rate for the new season.
Even as traditional fishermen along the Benaulim coast sought the blessings of the Almighty on Thursday as they geared up to venture out in the sea, primarily in search of the prized solar shrimp, they seemed to not know the shrimp rate they would fetch.
According to sources, a leading fish agent was spotted in Benaulim to negotiate with the fishermen on the rate for the shrimp catch. A traditional fisherman told 'The Goan' that the agent has given a tentative rate of around Rs 100 per kilogram for the solar shrimp. The actual rate, however, will be arrived at only after the start of the fishing season.
"The agent has only promised that they might procure the solar shrimp from the fishermen at a tentative rate of around Rs 100 a kilogram. We have no idea how the rate would evolve as it also depends on market factors such as demand and supply,” the fisherman said.
President of the Goenchea Ramponkarancho Ekvott Agnelo Rodrigues, when contacted, pointed out that fishermen should get a good rate for the solar shrimp. “Let’s wait and see how the agents fix the rate for the solar shrimp this year. The fishermen should get a good rate for the catch. Hope we get a good rate for the solar shrimp this season,” he said.
The traditional fishermen pointed out that the fishing community is literally at the mercy of the fishing agents over the shrimp rate. “Shrimp being a perishable commodity, it needs to be preserved and transported to the fish processing units before it loses its value. The fisherman is left with no option but to sell the shrimp to the agents. We have no say in the determination of the rate for the catch. We cannot dispose of the shrimp in the local market,” remarked a fisherman.
Goa’s fishing season begins with the annual hunt for the prized solar shrimp. Fishermen as well as mechanised boat owners say the shrimp is found close to the coast at the beginning of the fishing season before it disappears.
