the goan I network
MARGAO
If fish loving Goans are yet to feast on the common man’s fish “ the famous Goan mackerel -- this fishing season, blame it on the weather. At least, that’s the reason attributed by the mechanised boat owners, as the fish markets have witnessed scarcity of the much-sought after mackerels, leave alone the Kingfish, Morshe and other varieties of fish available during this time of the new fishing season.
Boat owners say this is perhaps the first time in recent years that mechanised fishing is yet to take off in full steam, with weather playing spoil sport since the new fishing season started on August 1.
In fact, boat owners as well as owners of fish processing units say that fishing activity has been affected along the country’s entire west coast, right from Maharashtra to Kerala, because of the inclement weather and strong currents.
Tuesday saw a fleet of around 20-30 purse seine fishing boats venturing out into the Arabian sea from the Cutbona fishing jetty. Reports coming back from these vessels, however, do not paint a rosy picture as the sea is still hit by strong currents, making fishing difficult.
Says general secretary of All Goa Purse Seine Owners Association, Seby Cardozo: “It’s purely because of the bad weather conditions that the markets have been hit by fish scarcity. When boats cannot venture out in the sea, there cannot be fish landing at the jetties. Fishing boats from the major jetties have still not ventured out because of the bad weather. Those who had taken risks have not met with much success.”
Cardozo pointed out that a small fleet of fishing vessels had left the Cutbona fishing jetty to venture out in the sea, but the weather conditions are still not conducive for fishing.
Former Cutbona Boat Owners Union Cypriano Cardozo told The Goan that around 20-30 purse seine vessels and a couple of small fishing boats have ventured out for fishing on Tuesday. He, however, said the boat owners are still keeping their fingers crossed.
A prominent seafood exporter operating from the Cuncolim industrial estate echoed similar sentiments. He pointed out that though it’s almost a month and 10 days since the new fishing season began on August 1, there’s no fish landing at the jetties across the western coast.
“Reports indicate that rough weather conditions are prevailing across the western coast, across Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka and Kerala coast. Our fish processing units are yet to process any fish till date,” he said, while waiting for the improvement in the weather conditions to receive supply from the jetties.
Sources in the know informed that fish that has found its way in the wholesale fish market and the retail fish markets, has come from fishing by the local traditional fishermen and the motorised canoes around the Kerala coast.
Work or no work, boat owners have no
option but to take care of workforce
MARGAO: Fishing activity might not have yet started in right earnest in the new season because of the bad weather, but boat owners seemed to have had no option than to support and take care of the migrant crew members that have already reported for work a month and half ago.
A purse seine vessel owner informed that with the total manpower having already joined the vessels, the owners have been left with no option than to take care of the workforce.
A purse seine vessel employs around 40-45 crew members, while the small fishing boats require around 7-10 employees on an average. “We have found out that almost the entire workforce has reported for work till date,” informed a boat owner.
