Marian Pinheiro
The formalin in fish is indeed a blessing in disguise for Goans, because this issue has not only turned the limelight on Goans’ staple food, the fish, but has exposed the political class for their want of imagination to find solution to a crisis. They are all indeed interested in deepening the crisis for their personal gains rather than look at the issue to find solutions. Blame game is the only armour these politicians have, whether ruling or Opposition, Left or Right, they all have one single agenda how to use this to gain votes. Not just the fish eating population, the fish vendors and fish catchers all are affected by this single phenomenon of formalin in fish.
Fish is among the healthiest foods on the planet. It is loaded with important nutrients, such as protein and Vitamin D. Fish is also the world’s best source of omega-3 fatty acids, which are incredibly important for your body and brain.
Goans are predominately fish eaters and substantial number of population is indeed involved in this process as either, the fish catchers, fish suppliers, fish vendors or fish eaters. Until some political party creates a political agenda that fish eating is against Indian culture/religion more and more people will consume more and more fish.
There is this problem of depletion in the quantity of fish caught, call it global warming or fish are becoming wiser to evade being caught. The available fish needs to be distributed equitably in the market, banning import or export are all politically tainted slogans. If they had any such genuine concern for people’s health they should demand banning of mining and pressurise the government to collect the levies and cost of illegal mining which alone is enough to look after the well being of the mining affected people. A conservative estimate admitted by the Government is Rs 4,000 crore which is enough to generate employment and provide livelihood to the mining affected people.
There are two fundamental issues in addition to the fish available being free of contamination and additives. One, the Goan fishermen who toil the whole year along, should earn enough to eke out a decent living and secondly the people of Goa should get adequate and safe fish for their daily consumption. When these two aspects are assured by the government then there is good and responsible governance in Goa.
This supplier compensation and consumer satisfaction can be achieved by setting up of fishermen’s cooperatives to shield the fishermen against loss of livelihood, they being that section of the society who is prone to poverty and economic despair.
This should at the same time assure availability of sufficient fish in the market for domestic consumption at reasonable prices and the over dominance by hoteliers, exporters. The wholesale fish transporters should be minimised by suitable regulation and price control for large or whole sale procurement of fish from Goa.
The fishery co-operative movement in India began in 1913 when the first “Fishermen’s Co-operative Society was organised in Maharashtra state in the name of ‘Karla Machhimar (Fishermen) Co-operative Society’ in Ratnagiri district. The state of West Bengal tagged on to Maharashtra to organise the fisheries co-operatives in 1918, followed by Tamil Nadu and other States There is a national level federation, known as ‘National Federation of Fishermen’s Co-operative Ltd.’ (FISHCOPFED), New Delhi and 18 State-Level Federations and 125 Central (District/Regional) level federations in the country.
Fisheries Co-operatives can provide, Finance to the Member Fishermen, Provide Fish Seeds, Nets and Boating Materials, Inputs and Equipments, Procure Fish from Members and Provide Complete Infrastructure for Sale of Fish and also arrange Technical Guidance for Members. Also to ensure that middlemen don’t exploit the market and fishermen.
These co-operatives could also provide food grains, kerosene, diesel, nets, boating material and other necessary requirements at a concessional rate as societies are running ration and spare parts shops, health care facilities and family welfare services to the members of fisheries co-operatives. In addition to Research, consultancy programmes can greatly improve the living conditions of fishermen and also make available adequate fish in the market.
Internationally India is the seventh largest producer of fish in the world. The countries ahead of India in production are USA, Russia, Chile, Peru, Japan and China. India contributes to around 10% of world shrimp production. India exports more than Rs 4500 crore worth of fish to more than 60 countries.
Fishery co-operatives in countries like Japan, South Korea, Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand have done excellent work. Fishermen’s Cooperatives in these countries are actively involved in credit, supply, marketing, ice making, freezing and cold storage, etc.
It is time that when crisis comes, our politicians and governments should learn to be forward looking and finding solutions rather than meddling in the crisis and take part in people’s sorrows and pain.
They need to learn to look ahead towards growth and prosperity for the people rather than think of development in those areas where they have an advantage financially and politically.
A cooperative system where every fishermen in the state is a member, which assures minimum price and purchase of all that is caught with prices calculated on a yearly average basis can ensure that fishermen’s earnings are not reduced during lean season and that when the catch is plenty he needn’t have to sell fish at throw away prices. The system should also ensure availability of safe and edible fish in the market for domestic consumption throughout the year. Import and export of fish should depend upon availability of fish. Hoteliers and wholesalers should pay higher price for bulk purchase so that there is no artificial scarcity or price escalation is created in the market for day to day consumers of fish.
A sustainable approach to fisheries and aquaculture will help to protect our natural resources and ensure that fish stocks are available for future generations. Currently, overfishing, ineffective management practices, industrial development and pollution have reduced fish stocks. A sustainable fisheries management is a challenge globally and a test for States’ governance.
(The writer is a Professor of Law and former Dean Faculty of Law, Goa University)
