Fishermen returns back on the Benaulim shore at 10.30 am with catch of fresh mackerels. With the wholesale fish market at Margao shut after 10 am, they say they have no place to sell their catch. Captured by : Santosh Mirajkar
MARGAO
It was 10.30 am on Saturday. A country-made fish canoe had just landed at the Benaulim shore with baskets-full of fresh mackerel.
As the fishermen were sorting out the fish and collecting the same in baskets, locals pointed out that many a motorized canoe which had ventured out in the sea in the morning are expected to return back to the shore around noon.
The fishermen reported a good catch, but they were still at sea “ how to sell the fish when the SGPDA has driven out traditional fishermen from selling fish in the wholesale fish market after 10 am since the last three days. And, these fishermen seemed keeping their fingers crossed about how and where to sell the fresh fish netted from the sea.
Benaulim-based fisherman Jose Fernandes cried foul over the SGPDA’s decision, saying the decision to shut down the wholesale fish market by 10 am will deprive the traditional fishermen of the right to sell fresh fish to Goans. “Our fish is fresh and not laced with formalim. We catch the fish and straight away take the catch to the wholesale fish market for sale. People of Goa wait for us to bring fresh fish in the market. But, with the SGPDA imposing timings at the wholesale fish market, the fishermen are denied the right to sell their catch and the fish loving Goans denied of fresh fish”, he said.
He added: “The SGPDA or the government should understand there are no fixed timings for fishing activity. The fish catch is dependent on a host of factors, including weather. But, the moment we catch fish, it is transported to the wholesale fish market for sale. They cannot deny us the place to sell our catch”.
Jose further out that the fish trucks from outside the state enjoys preference in the wholesale fish market as a result of which the traditional fishermen does not get sufficient space inside. “In states such as Kerala, outside fish vehicles do not get first preference in sale of fish, but in Goa it is just the opposite”, he said.
Another fisherman Seby pointed out that the SGPDA should earmark a place at the wholesale fish market so that the fishermen are not forced to sell their fish outside the market. “Since our fishing activity has no fixed timings, the wholesale fish market should be thrown open for the fishermen round the clock”, he added.
