MARGAO
The hunt for the prized solar shrimp has begun with country-made motorised boats reporting good landing of the shrimp along the Colva coast.
Traditional fishermen, however, appeared unhappy that wholesalers purchased a kilogram of the shrimp at Rs 110 kg, while fixing a different rate of Rs 130-140 for the mechanised boat owners.
Monday saw a fleet of country-made motorised boats returned to the Colva shore with moderate landing of the prized solar shrimp. The shrimp, which normally finds i
ts way to the factories in Kerala and Mumbai before it is exported to Japan and other countries, has commanded a rate than what was expected by the fishermen.
Though the landing of the solar shrimp has brought smiles on the faces of the traditional fishermen, they, however, appeared unhappy with the rate fixed by the fish wholesalers.
A common question that was asked the traditional fishermen on the Colva shore on Monday noon was why there was a different set of rates for them and the mechanised boat owners. Questions were also asked why the rate of the solar shrimp has hit as low as Rs 110 a kilogram when it was hovering around Rs 170 two years ago. Resentment was also writ large on the traditional fishermen on different rates for them and the mechanised boat owners.
Says traditional fishermen, Mariano Fernandes: "We fail to understand how come the rate of solar shrimp has been fixed at Rs 110 a kg for the traditional fishermen as against Rs 130-140 for the mechanised boat owners. Though the government permit the traditional fishermen to venture out in the sea with the traditional fishing boats and gears, two different rates for the fishermen and
the boat owners amounts to injustice."
Another fisherman from Colva echoed similar sentiments. He demanded to know why the solar shrimp rate has been on the downslide over the years, saying that there ought to be one set of rate for the stakeholders.
With the traditional fishermen reporting good landing of the solar shrimp, hopes are raised amongst the mechanised boat owners community of a good harvest of the prized shrimp ahead of the fishing season, beginning from Tuesday.
Though the landing of the solar shrimp has brought smiles on the faces of the traditional fishermen, they, however, appeared unhappy with the rate fixed by the fish wholesalers.
A common question that was asked the traditional fishermen on the Colva shore on Monday noon was why there was a different set of rates for them and the mechanised boat owners. Questions were also asked why the rate of the solar shrimp has hit as low as Rs 110 a kilogram when it was hovering around Rs 170 two years ago. Resentment was also writ large on the traditional fishermen on different rates for them and the mechanised boat owners.
Says traditional fishermen, Mariano Fernandes: "We fail to understand how come the rate of solar shrimp has been fixed at Rs 110 a kg for the traditional fishermen as against Rs 130-140 for the mechanised boat owners. Though the government permit the traditional fishermen to venture out in the sea with the traditional fishing boats and gears, two different rates for the fishermen and
the boat owners amounts to injustice."
Another fisherman from Colva echoed similar sentiments. He demanded to know why the solar shrimp rate has been on the downslide over the years, saying that there ought to be one set of rate for the stakeholders.
With the traditional fishermen reporting good landing of the solar shrimp, hopes are raised amongst the mechanised boat owners community of a good harvest of the prized shrimp ahead of the fishing season, beginning from Tuesday.
