MARGAO
Where’s the big Shevtto gone, was the common refrain at the venue of the Goa Aqua fish festival as the government officially declared Shevtto as the State fish sans any fanfare and schemes alike to ensure its easy availability in the markets and at affordable rates.
The question came to fore as dignitaries, including Deputy Chief Minister, Francis D’Souza, Fisheries Minister, Avertano Furtado and MLAs Digambar Kamat and Caitu D’Silva, ZP member Ulhas Tuemkar and BJP leader Sharmad Raiturkar displayed baby shevtte as a symbolic gesture to mark the occasion.
Before the dignitaries declared shevtto as the State fish, Fisheries Director Dr Sharmila Monteiro gave a brief outline behind the government’s decision to declare Shevtto as the State fish. She, however, did not announce any new scheme to promote shevtto culture in the State or availability of the fish at subsidised rates since shevtto is virtually out of the menu of the common man.
“We have decided to bestow the status of State fish on shevtto on ground that seven per cent of Goa’s inland fish production pertains to shevtto. As per statistics, Goa produces around 280 tonnes of shevtte annually”, she said.
The fisheries director also said shevtto is very good for aqua culture. She, however, did not announce any new scheme to boost production, but said the directorate had a number of schemes to promote shevtto culture.
Former chief minister, Digambar Kamat remarked that efforts ought to be made to ensure that shevtto is available at a cheaper rate, even as the dignitaries admitted that the government has no control on the pricing of fish sold in the Goan markets.
