Ramponkars suffer losses as wholesale fish market closes at 10 am

MARGAO: Traditional fishermen, primarily the ramponkars, say they are facing losses as they are denied access to the wholesale fish market after 10 am. Frustrated by the lack of alternatives, many are resorting to selling their catches on the roadside to prevent further setbacks.

Despite the High Court’s involvement, the South Goa Planning and Development Authority and Margao Municipal Council have enforced regulations that halt all fish-selling activities at the Wholesale Fish Market in Margao beyond 10 am. While some political leaders have expressed support for the traditional fishing community, a concrete solution to safeguard the interests of the ramponkars remains elusive.

In recent days, ramponkars have been observed selling fish on roadsides throughout the coastal areas of Salcete taluka. However, they are struggling to attract customers in these makeshift setups. The wholesale fish market, which used to be their primary sales venue, is now off-limits beyond 10 am.

Patrecinha Fernandes, a fish vendor from the ramponkar community spoke of the losses they have incurred due to the lack of a designated selling area.“We have no fixed timings and are often forced to bring our catch to the wholesale fish market between 3 pm and 5 pm. For the past few days, we have been denied access to the market, resulting in our fish not getting sold,” she lamented.

Patrecinha criticised the government for disregarding the concerns of local fishermen, especially those engaged in traditional fishing practices.

John Fernandes, another fisherman from the coastal Salcete area, also reported losses in recent days. He lamented the dire situation faced by the ramponkars , as they are compelled to take to the streets to sustain their livelihoods.

Considering the prevailing circumstances, Francisco Fernandes from Benaulim argued that the authorities should prioritise the needs of traditional fishing communities. Furthermore, he suggested that authorities should have informed the High Court about the challenges faced by these fishermen and their dependency on the wholesale fish market as their primary sales outlet.