The annual fishing ban announced by the fisheries department is in place. Having commenced on June 1 it will extend till July 31. The ban aims to facilitate sufficient time for fish breeding along the state’s coastal belt, throughout the spawning season.
Ironically dead fish resurfaced at the Velsao beach on Saturday raising concern about the threat to marine life and water pollution happening in Cortalim constituency. Incidentally a week back, dead fish had also surfaced on the beach.
According to the fishermen this has been a recurrent problem. Unusual fish mortality has been reported in the bay of Pale-Velsao and within the brackish water rivulet.
Be that as it may, in the past health concern has been raised as fish from the neighbouring states, allegedly laced with formalin, was being sold in the market. Now residents have alleged that the dead fish found on the beach is being sold in the market by some vendors.
It is alleged by the local fishing community that untreated industrial effluent is being discharged into the Arabian Sea by a chemical unit leading to large-scale fish mortality.
It must be said that consuming fish which is dead due to untreated industrial effluents can lead to more serious health issues than consuming fish laced with formalin.
When the source of the alleged contamination is known, it should be an easy task for the authorities concerned to investigate and take necessary action.
