TEAM HERALD
CANACONA: After initial disappointment, fishermen in Canacona found their fishing nets full with mackerels and the most prized catch of solar shrimps.
According to sources, fishermen were ecstatic to have a large catch of mackerels, a much sought after fresh fish variety by most Goan fish consumers.
At the beginning, 12 to 15 mackerels of medium to big sizes were sold for Rs 100 at Palolem and Agonda beach coasts. However, with many fish boats returning with large amount of mackerels catch and finding less market/purchasers during late night hours, one could buy as many as 20 bigger sized mackerels for the same amount.
According to reports, one of the fibre boats that returned at Agonda coast at about 6 pm on Friday could clear their nets of the large amount of big-sized mackerels only at 5 am the next morning.
Unlike the mechanized fishing boats, the local fibre boats (locally called Paths) use ‘Kantali’ (fish net) which is spread in deep seas and later pulled back with fish entangled in it into the boat.
Interestingly, beginning Saturday night fishermen at Palolem and Agonda were ecstatic to have prized catch of solar shrimps. Some ‘paths’ that returned on Saturday morning reportedly brought solar shrimps weighing as much as 3,000 kgs.
According to sources, while the wholesale purchasers could pick up the lots at a bit cheaper rate from Rs 110 to Rs 140 a kg, locals who sought to buy 1-2 kgs purchased the same at Rs 160 to Rs 200.
