MARGAO: The South Goa Planning and Development Authority (SGPDA) discussed the issue of wholesale fish market at its meeting on Thursday.
Fishermen have been alleging that the wholesale fish market was being misused by vendors who are not traditional fishermen and as a result the ramponkars have been denied of theirs rights to sell fish at the market.
SGPDA Chairperson Renuka D’Silva, John Fernandes, former MLA Caitu Silva and others were present at the meeting.
At the meeting, Renuka said that she wanted a system in place and “it is a give and take affair.” “We are in agreement. Now, after the market goes for renovation, we will speak to all the stakeholders and will eventually have a nice and clean market selling only fish on wholesale,” Renuka said.
“They went out happy, but we have to have some system in place and are ready to give some extension of time, provided they agree to the rules,” the chairperson said.
Meanwhile, Caitu Silva said that the some of the spouses of the deceased fishermen, some small time ramponkars and other special cases need to be allowed to sell all time. “They have been selling fish for several years and now they can’t stop their livelihood earning,” Caitu said.
Caitu went a step ahead asking for retail trade at the wholesale market as there is no place where these women can go and sell their catch. Meanwhile, he also said that there was a need to remove all the fish vendors who are not traditional fishermen from the market area.
John Fernandes said that catching fish and selling it is a birth right for the people who have been in the trade for decades as it is a heritage occupation. “Verify the licences of the fishermen, check cards and allow the fishermen to sell on unconditional basis,” John demanded.
