PANJIM: Goa is heading for an acute shortage of fish in the coming weeks with the fishing ban enforced in the State as well as most parts of the Konkan coast. Restrictions on fish imports will add to the limited availability of fish.
Over the last five months since December 23, 2018 Goa has been importing fish only from the neighbouring districts across the borders in Karnataka and Maharashtra. With both States heading for the monsoon season along with Goa, where the fishing ban is imposed for a period of 61 days, the availability of fish will drop drastically.
The Margao wholesale fish market on a daily basis has around 30 mini trucks transporting fish from Vengurla, Malvan, Ratnagiri in Maharashtra and Karwar in Karnataka. However, with anchors dropped by fishing trawlers along the Konkan coast, Goans will have to depend on the traditional fishermen of the State.
According to a wholesaler in Margao, “With the implementation of the fishing ban whatever fish has come so far and stocked will be available henceforth. The current fish stocks from the trawlers will suffice until June 5. After that we will have to depend on fish from the traditional fishermen who go out in canoes.”
He added that due to bad weather conditions fishing activity all along the west coast of India comes to a standstill. “In the eventuality Kerala’s fishermen venture into the sea after June then we will some good quantity of fish,” he added.
