TEAM HERALD
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PANJIM: Most of the major fish markets in the State were deserted on Tuesday, following the strike by trawler operators in the State who are protesting against the hike in diesel prices.
PONDA
When fish markets elsewhere in the State were closed, the Ponda fish market did business as usual, but there was a shortage of some fish like mackerel and other small fish.
According to sources, the actual fish shortage will be witnessed from Wednesday as fish vendors who had purchased fish in bulk on Monday were able to sell it on Tuesday.
Kingfish was available in the market, but it was priced at Rs 70 higher than the regular price of Rs 380 a kilo. Even the prices of local fish in some parts of Ponda taluka kept fluctuating during the morning.
“Some fish vendors bought fish in bulk quantity on Monday and sold it to customers on Tuesday,” Ashok Naik, a fish vendor from Ponda, told Herald.
Bhudhwarpeth Vyapari Sangathana President Shankar Naik cautioned that the ongoing strike by trawler operators could lead to severe fish shortage, which in turn would raise the prices of chicken, mutton, eggs and local fish.
Tribhuvandas Nageshkar, a manager of a hotel in Ponda which is frequented by tourists and locals, said they did not face any fish shortage as of today.
BARDEZ
The fish markets in Mapusa, Betim-Verem, Malim, Assagao and Siolim remained closed.
The strike call received good response from the retail fish vendors. Many fishermen at Anjuna and Chapora, who had ventured into the sea with their canoes, sold off their catch at the beach itself.
Speaking to Herald, the fish vendors at Mapusa fish market informed that they had decided not to sell fish on their own and there was no pressure from Trawler Owners Association.
BICHOLIM
The strike affected residents of Bicholim taluka and people could only purchase small quantities of shellfish on Tuesday.
The shortage of fish also affected most hotels in the taluka. “Today, we somehow managed as we had some stock of fish left, but if the strike continues for next few days, then the hotel industry will suffer,” said a hotel owner, Shashikant Vernekar,
VASCO
The strike of trawler operators was a blessing in disguise for the Mormugao Taluka Action Committee, which had called for a Vasco bandh.
Speaking to Herald, a few fish vendors, who also own trawlers, informed that the bandh was the only way they could put forth their demand and get a solution to their problem.
“Some of us are already facing the problem of getting labourers to work on the trawlers and the rise in diesel price will make our living a challenge,” added a fish vendor.
CANACONA
The municipal fish market in Canacona was virtually abandoned as none of the fish vendors turned up in the market.
However, Karwari women were selling fish in many village interiors before beating a hasty retreat after selling fish at throwaway prices, on learning about the shutdown of the markets in the State.
The Poinguinim fish market, widely frequented by fish vendors from Majali-Karwar, sold fish freely and left the venue by noon, informed sources.
(With inputs from Amresh Parab, Anil Shankwalker, Samir Umarye, Elvino Araujo, Kathy Pereira and Freddy Rebello)
