MARGAO
In fact, dry fish has been the most sought after items on display and sale at the Purmetachem fest fair, with the sale bringing smiles on the faces of the vendors and local fishermen. Given that the feast of Holy Spirit has been celebrated this year on June 4, post the fishing ban, and that the fish markets are experiencing fish shortage, dry fish is literally the catch word at the Purmetachem fair around the Old market.
Vendors engaged in selling dry fish have conceded that they have done moderate to brisk sale of dry fish this season. And, given that curtains will come down on the Purmetachem fair on Sunday, the vendors are expecting the sale to go up in the next five days.
Says fish vendor Liberata Fernandes: “The business has been good so far and we all expect the sales to pick up further in the next five days. The most sought after dry fish has been the “solleas” (sting ray fish) and mackerels. There’s been demand for other variety of fish too.”
Fish vendor from Colva, Alice Fernandes echoed similar sentiments. She said the vendors have so far have made moderate to good business this year, but added that “solleas” have been in short supply this year. “The rate of solleas have gone up this year because of the shortage. This year, we did not receive the solleas from Kerala, resulting in the shortage,” she said. The solleas were priced between the range of Rs 400 to Rs 700 depending on the size.
And, with the fish ban in force in the State from June 1, most of the traditional fish vendors have turned to selling dry fish at the Purmetachem fest at the Old market area. Even the dry fish vendors operating from the SGPDA fish market have set up stalls at the Old market in anticipation of the demand for dry fish during the seven-day fair.
