In a setback to the fishing industry, there has been a sharp decline in the marine fish catch. A shortfall has been observed from 2015 to 2017. However, what is surprising is that despite the decline in the fish catch, the export has significantly gone up.
Against the fall in catch, the year-wise quantity of fish exported over the last two years reveals that there has been a slight increase. In 2015, Goa exported 34,814 tonnes from the MPT, which increased to 38,209 in 2016 leading to an increase in the exchange value.
Meanwhile, the fall in supply, coupled with the increasing demand in Goa, has resulted in people shelling out more money to buy fish as compared to previous years.
However, the state’s total fish production for 2015 was 108,240 tonnes which dropped to 101,053 tonnes in 2016. In 2017 (January to June) the marine fish catch stands at 48,453 tonnes. However, the Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) is currently studying the impact of LED on the fisheries resources.
Meanwhile, speaking to Herald, Fisheries Minister Vinod Palyekar said “The subsidies for the fishing industries were not really helping to keep the price of fish within the common man’s reach and a majority of the fish were being exported. We are looking to ban exports. Goans do not get much fish to eat here.”
