PANAJI
Fisheries Minister Nilkanth Halarnkar on Monday said his department is working on a proposal to make registration mandatory for all fish traders to gain entry to the fish-landing jetties.
Only registered traders will be permitted to enter the jetties once the proposal is finalised, Halarnkar said, adding that he has instructed the fisheries director to initiate the process.
Halarnkar charged that the managing committee of the Mandovi Fishermen Marketing Co-op Society Ltd, which manages the Betim jetty, is behaving high-handedly.
"Action will be taken against them as per law," Halarnkar said.
The minister's comments come in the wake of complaints by a couple of trawler owners that they suffered losses because their catch rotted as traders at Malim high-handedly refused to buy their fish.
The minister meanwhile said Rs 40 crore will be spent on the upcoming SGPDA market at Margao.
On the question of inaction by fisheries officials against fishing trawlers and boats using LED lights even after the Coastal police reporting rampant use of the banned equipment, Halarnkar said, action is being taken as per laid down procedures.
