SURAJ NANDREKAR
suraj@herald-goa.com
PANJIM: The recent formalin-laced fish controversy has put a big question mark as to why the State is allowing the fish exports despite heavily subsidising the industry?
Inquiries have revealed that almost 40 per cent of the fish catch by the Goan fishermen is exported leaving government and the Goans in the lurch – who are paying for their subsidies.
While the State has a booming fishing industry, which has an annual catch of nearly 120,000 tonnes, surprisingly Goans have been deprived of quality and affordable fish.
The total number of trawlers registered in the State is 1104 and despite this it has to import fish from the other States and also from East Coast during the fishing ban period from June 1 to July 31.
However, the total average quantity of fish that arrives from outside the State for sale in Goa is not available with the Fishing Department.
Drop in catch: Since 2014 there has been a steep decrease in the fish catch at the five jetties namely Malim, Cutbona, Vasco, Chapora and Talpona.
In 2014 Goa saw a fish catch of 128,107 tonnes which came down to 108,240 tonnes in 2015 and went further down to 101,053 in 2016. But the figure went up by 15% in 2017 as the marine fish catch was around 120,430 tonnes.
However, the inland fish catch is constantly increasing every year as in 2014 it was 3,718 tonnes, in 2016 4,648 tonnes, in 2017 4,403 tonnes and in 2017 5,332 tonnes.
The drop in the catch should have been a sufficient reason for the government to ban exports as it deprives Goans, who are paying for the subsidies, of good fish.
The figures for 2017 were not available.
Exports increase: Against the fall in catch, the year wise quantity of fish exported over the last two years has been static.
In 2014 the exports were 40,365 tonnes. In 2015, Goa exported 34,814 tonnes from the Mormugao Port Trust (MPT), and this increased to 38,209 in 2016 leading to an increase in the exchange value.
Subsidies galore: As per a statement by Fisheries Minister Vinod Palyekar, the State has been dishing out a subsidy amount of Rs 108 crore annually.
He had also decided to review the subsidy last October but till date there has been no headway.
The decision to conduct a review of subsidies given to fishermen and trawler owners was taken at a special meeting held at the Secretariat along with the department officials.
As per the minister, who is on record, of the Rs 108 crore subsidies, Rs 83 cr is being given to trawlers in the State for VAT on diesel, petrol and other small things.
Information further reveals that the Fisheries Department spends almost Rs 21.17 crore on financial assistance for fuel while Rs 61.30 crore on financial assistance on Goa Value Added Tax (VAT) on monthly basis, which amounts to Rs 83 crore annually.
The other subsidies the fishermen get are for the nets, insulated boxes, power blocks, life jackets and lifebuoys.
Palyekar had also threatened to divert the subsidy to government Fisheries Corporation and the Fisheries Department.
He said that the Fisheries Corporation will be formed in the next one year with the aim to give subsidised fish to people on a similar basis like the vegetable horticulture outlets.
