PANJIM: Even as fish catch has drastically declined in the State, the quantity of fish exported has increased.
Statistics released by Fisheries Department show that there has been a steady decline in the total fish catch. In 2014 the total fish catch was 1,31,825 tonnes, in 2015 it fell 1,12,888 tonnes, up to October 2016 was just 59,414 tonnes.
The fall in supply, coupled with the increasing demand in Goa, has resulted in people shelling out more money to buy fish as compared to previous years.
Against the fall in catch, the year wise quantity of fish exported over the last two years reveals that there has been a slight increase. In 2015 Goa exported 34,814 tonnes, and this increased to 36,901 tonnes in 2016, leading to an increase in the exchange value from Rs 51,748 lakh in 2015 to Rs 58,271 lakh in 2016.
Further, statistics reveal that in 2015 the annual inland fish production increased to 4,648 tonnes from 3,718 tonnes of the previous years.
Sources have attributed the drastic decline in the catch of fish over the last two years to surplus fishing operations. “The number of trawlers in the state is on the increase and plus the trawlers coming from the neighbouring states have also increased,” sources said.
Earlier the government had also banned the use of LED lights by trawlers after local fishermen had opposed it claiming it could lead to a fish famine. Those involved in LED lights fishing claimed their methods were safe and there is no scientific study to disprove this.
