Pratik Parab
Margao: The Fishing Trawler Owners attached to various jetties in Goa have sounded the siren of war against the fish traders of Goa for holding the fishing business hostage for two days. The Fishing Trawler Owners of Cutbona have decided to infuse their catch into the wholesale and retail markets here. They have aimed to breakdown the mafia and the commission culture of traders and agents. The Cutbona Trawler Owner Association has said that they have the full capacity to supply fish to Goan markets all year through. However, the discussion at the press conference also revealed that the trawler owner’s lack of cold storage and preservation facilities for the excess fish caught has made them dependent on low-rate sell outs and also on restraining from selling.
The Cutbona Fishing Trawlers Owner Associations member, Minguel Rodrigues has announced the re-entry of local fishermen into the local markets and fish trade. He
says, “The so-called fish traders and agents who claim to be Goans are actually non-Goans and they have now begun to control the fish trade of Goa which we won’t let happen.” The Association has made a charge that the inflation in prices of fish in Goa is a result of the commission taken by agents and middlemen which can be as high as 20% of the fish sold.
“The fishing business and the rates are governed by the traders, agents and outsiders. Our markets are held hostage by the outsiders and we won’t let it happen anymore. We will take over the Margao retail and wholesale markets and we are confident that the decision will be in our favour,” says Benjamin Silva, MLA of Velim.
“If we, the local fishermen enter the Market with our fish, we will be able to sell fish at cheaper rates as the middlemen who charge heavy commissions will be eradicated. We don’t need traders and middlemen in Goa,” says Rodrigues. “A centralised refrigeration facility will solve the problem of storage and supply of fish to local markets,” he added.
The trawler owners have begun bringing in fish from local fishermen into the Margao wholesale market. However, the supply was less on Tuesday and many fishermen had to go back empty-handed from the market.
