CANACONA: The main fish market in Canacona located at Chaudi has been deserted since the time the 15-day ban on the import and sale of fish from other States was imposed.
The situation was no better at other minor fish markets like Sheller, Bhatpal, Poinguinim and Mashem.
After the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) detected that fish imported from other States were laced with formalin to increase its shelf-life, there was a huge uproar in the print and social media. Consequently, on July 18, Goa government banned the import and sale of fish from other States for a period of 15 days.
Canacona, with about 10,000 thousand households, needs a minimum of 5,000 kgs of fish a day barring Monday and Thursday on which day some of the locals go vegetarian. But with fishing ban in place till end of this month and rough weather not allowing traditional fishermen to venture into the sea, there is huge gap between supply and demand. Despite having three rivers, the fish caught in Canacona has been insufficient.
The usual hustle and bustle was seen missing at the Chaudi fish market on Thursday with about seven women selling fish caught locally, a portion of 12 pieces of medium sized dodyare was selling at a premium of over Rs 600 clearly beyond the reach of common man from the taluka. Locals feel that if the weather improves, traditional raponkars casting their nets in the shallow waters might improve the situation over next few days.
Samrat Bhagat an office bearer of Jagruk Canconkars speaking to Herald said that their NGO had started an agitation against food adulteration a month back and pointed out how people were unknowingly consuming unhealthy food. However, he was happy to say that people have become wise and no one will be able to take Goans for a ride henceforth.
