MARGAO
Fishing stakeholders, including exporters, mechanised boat owners from Goa on Friday drew attention of the Union Minister of Fisheries Parshottam Rupala to the host of problems plaguing the fishing industry.
President of Seafood Exporters Association of India, M Ibrahim called for upgradation of the fishing jetties across the State on par with European standards, with cold storage facilities. Ibrahim drew attention of the Union Minister that Goa has exported fish worth Rs 1,500 crore during the current financial year, adding that the fish export from Goa can achieved the Rs 4,000 crore target if the government addresses the issues facing the fishing industry. “We are exporting the fish to countries such as Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, China, who process the fish and add value before exporting to Europe and USA. We too can add value to the fish products in India with support from the government,” he added.
Fish exporter and mechanised boat owner Miguel Rodrigues made a strong case for lifting of the ban on LED fishing. He said a study has shown that LED fishing is a must for sustainable fishing in the deep sea.
He feared that Chinese fishing vessels have been exploiting the rich marine resources with the help of LED lights, but local fishing vessels are barred from using lights. “Tuna fish is being caught by Chinese vessel with LED lights. Government can come up with norms restricting LED fishing within certain nautical miles from the coast,” he said, while calling for a re-think on the ban on LED fishing.
President of Fishing Boat Association Harshad Dhond has called for the setting up of a floating jetty at Malim with amenities. He also made a strong case for the VAT reimbursement.
Benaulim MLA Venzy Viegas submitted a memorandum to the Union Minister to build the training wall at the mouth of river Sal. He also submitted a memorandum on behalf of the traditional fishermen to address their long pending demands.
Minister calls for increasing fish exports, but
‘mum’ on making it affordable to Goans
MARGAO: Union Minister for Fisheries Parshottam Rupala spoke about increasing fish exports and to resolve the issues plaguing fishermen, including VAT to take fishing forward, but he had no answer how to make fish affordable to the common Goemkar.
In fact, when the media drew his attention to the fact that fish is the staple food of Goans, but ordinary Goemkars cannot get affordable fish with the catch going for exports and other States, Rupala in a lighter vein sought to know whether “rationing” could be an answer to make fish affordable.
The Minister, however, had no answer how to make the fish available in the local market at affordable rates before the catch is being exported out of the State.
His attention was drawn to the fact that fish prices have been on the rise given Goa is a tourist destination visited by lakhs of visitors every year. His attention was further drawn to the fact while exporters took pride that fish exports from Goa have touched a whopping Rs 1,500 crore figure mark in the current financial year, the prices of fish have not come down in the local market.
Former Margao Municipal councillor Arthur D’Silva, who attended the programme, told the media that when the government is providing subsidies to the fishing sector, the fishing stakeholders should be made to make available fish in the market at affordable rates. “What is the use if the government is providing subsidies to the fishing industry, and the common man does not get any return in terms of availability and affordability of fish in the market,” Arthur added.
