VASCO
Traditional fishermen from Baina, Desterro and Khariwaddo marched to the Vasco police station on Tuesday evening, after accusing fishing agents of refusing to buy their fish catch. Speaking to The Goan, Graciuos Coutinho said the fishing agents have refused to buy their catch since the last two days. “Whatever we caught in the last two days was sold at a throwaway price, as the agents are not buying our catch,” said Coutinho. Custodio D Souza of Old Cross Canoe Association said they were surprised with the sudden behavior of the agents and they went to the police station for an amicable solution. “We are at the police station so that the police can call the agents and find out the reason why they are not buying our catch and if possible find a solution to the problem,” said D Souza. Some agitating fishermen said they go out to sea for the catch with much difficulty and once at the shore, the agents refuse to buy their catch. When asked why they are not taking their catch to the Margao wholesale market, the fishermen said their timings of going out to sea are not fixed. The Margao wholesale market operates only early morning, while they reach the shore much later and even at times in the evenings, they added. The fishermen said they cannot sell their entire catch to the fish vendors at Vasco market due to which they seek the service of the agents to supply their catch along with others to the fish factories outside Goa. As the Vasco PI Sagar Ekoskar wasn t present, the fishermen were seen outside the police station till late in the evening.
