MARGAO
Amidst the Covid gloom, rich harvest of fish from the Mai Tollem lake in Curtorim brought cheers to the farmers as well as fresh fish lovers on Saturday.
Compared to the past, the beeline of fish lovers at Mai Tollem was less due to the Covid curfew, but those who made it to Curtorim early Saturday went home with a variety of fresh fish.
Take note, the Curgunin Tenants Association will go for the fish harvesting in the same lake for the second time early Sunday morning.
A variety of fish was netted during the harvesting, including katla, roha, besides local variety such as tigurs, pintols et al.
This year, harvesting of the fish was delayed by several days because of the delay in harvesting paddy.
President of Curgunin Tenants Association Francisco Dias informed that harvesting of fish was good on day one, adding that the fish will be harvested from the lake on Sunday as well.
“There’s a rule stating that the harvesting ought to be carried out between April 15 and 8 every year. This year turned out to be an exception because of the late harvesting of paddy for want of harvesters. The farmers had issues relating to harvesting machines. Hence, paddy harvesting took place late and so was the harvesting of fish,” Francisco said.
While it was initially planned to hold the fish harvesting last Sunday, it was subsequently postponed because of cyclone Tauktae. “The farmers had a torrid time to protect the fish as the lake was filled to the brim by the rains during the cyclone. Somehow, they managed to protect the fish,” he added.
Chairman of Curtorim Bio-diversity Committee J Santan Rodrigues said the fish harvesting at the Mai Tollem was very good, with people from the neighbouring villages to lay their hands on the freshwater fish.
