VASCO
Hit by directives from Mormugao Municipal Council (MMC) to stop wholesale fish selling activity, fish wholesalers accused the council of targetting their business while doing nothing about those selling fish by the roadsides and those door-to-door vendors selling fish in the municipality.
Speaking to reporters, a fish wholesaler Paixao Monteiro said people from across the city would visit the wholesale market because fish was fresh and available at cheaper rates.
"Even if we close our shops, people come to our house and insist that we give them fish and they don't allow us to even sleep and this is the tremendous support that we have from the people. The reason is that we sell better quality fish at half rates and people are not confined or forced to go to the fish market and buy in retail or small portions,” said Monteiro.
The fish market vendors have no licence and are basically those either with Portuguese passports or from Karwar side, while we are fishermen who sell our fresh catch of fish to people and hotels. The MMC staff also take fish from here and people are happy about our presence here."
"We are not doing anything illegal and we are traditional fishermen who catch fish and sell good fish to people, but the MMC thinks we are illegal as if we have smuggled the fish and no matter what raids they carry out, they will get nothing but fish from our stalls. Let the people tell us to stop and we will stop immediately," said Monteiro.
Another wholesaler, Lawrence D'Souza, said people had been demanding that fish be supplied to people at wholesale rate.
"We have our own canoes and own boats and we spend money on labour, fuel and finally get a catch of fish that we sell here. What is the issue if we sell our own fish at cheaper rates and there are no complaints from people?”
“We cannot survive if we do not sell our fish and the MMC must reconsider its decision so that we fishermen can survive. We cannot be deprived of our livelihood even when we are doing our job in all honesty and offering good fish at cheaper prices," said D'Souza.
