After years of redevelopment efforts, Goa’s only wholesale fish market at Margao is finally nearing its much-anticipated commissioning, which could take place sooner rather than later. However, what comes as a shock is that one critical component reportedly remains conspicuously absent: the cold storage. It must be said that a cold storage facility is a crucial feature for the market’s functionality and long-term success. In fact, one cannot imagine a wholesale fish market functioning for even a day without a functional cold storage facility. The plan for setting up such a facility should have been executed much before the construction of the market complex commenced. The market is proposed to assist local fishing communities, such as ramponkars and fishing boat owners, for which the cold storage facility is vital to store surplus fish.
It is learnt that the funds allocated by the central government for the redevelopment project were reportedly primarily intended to fund the cold storage unit. However, this vital necessity remains unaddressed. The livelihood of the fishing community depends on the efficiency of the market infrastructure, and being the only wholesale fish market in the State, it should have been completed in all respects. Be that as it may, it is a known fact that cold storage is important for perishable food items because it extends their shelf life and keeps them safe to eat.
Cold storage facilities are designed to maintain high hygiene standards, with controlled temperatures and proper sanitation practices, minimising the risk of contamination and ensuring food safety. Consuming stale fish can lead to food poisoning, most commonly causing symptoms like nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal cramps and headaches. This is all the more true when consuming stale shellfish. There are several types of toxins in contaminated shellfish that can cause illness. Toxins may be found in mussels, oysters, clams, etc. It would therefore be prudent to commission the wholesale fish market at Margao only after the cold storage unit has been installed and made functional, keeping in mind the health of fish-eaters and the loss that will be incurred by the fishing community in the absence of such a unit.
