VASCO
While the proposed new Vasco fish market is already on the boil over the sale of fish by the roadside, many wholesalers and boat owners on Friday flatly rejected demands to stop selling fish and said their service had helped people get fresh fish at wholesale rates.
While wholesalers insisted every person had a right to do business, some said the issue of people selling fish outside the market was a political gimmick with elections fast approaching.
Wholesalers have also claimed that almost half of the disgruntled Vasco fish market vendors are Portuguese passport holders and hence don’t have the right to stop Goans from carrying out business.
Several wholesalers have presently set up WhatsApp groups and post pictures of fresh catch of fish and the wholesale rates.
People later flock to these designated places and wholesalers also have their own fish cutters, enabling two or more persons to share a huge fish.
“We have been selling fish caught on our trawlers. We were requested to close down our business but we have told authorities that we are selling fish caught by our trawlers and within the jetty premises and not on roadsides and we are not governed by the laws of the Vasco Market,” said Michael Pereira, chairman of Vasco Fishing Boat Owners Marketing Cooperative Society.
“We offer fresh fish at wholesale rates and after a meeting we have decided to continue selling fish at the jetty. We will also have a gate installed at the entry of the fishing jetty to mark our territory,” said Pereira.
Another fish wholesaler, Pashao Monteiro, said they were selling only big fish, a business that had been carried out for many years.
“We are not selling small fish and if we do sell small ones, authorities can ask us to stop. We have to go to Margao if we don’t sell fish here to people.”
“Why should anyone stop us from selling fresh fish caught on our own trawlers? Is it a crime to sell good fish to people at cheaper rates and everyone can do business. We will not stop selling big fish at wholesale prices and we have also informed authorities of our stand,” said Monteiro.
Another fish wholesaler alleged that many Vasco fish market vendors were Portuguese passport holders.
“Many vendors at the fish market are Portuguese passport holders and while their children are in Europe, they want us to stop our children who want to continue traditional business by staying back in Goa.”
“While we sell per kilo, the market sells fish per ‘vanto’ and we are not forcing customers to come to us. The price of fish at the market is almost double and we are not to be blamed. Fish vendors must remember that it is because of us boat owners that they get fish to sell in the market,” said the wholesaler.
