Team Herald
PANJIM: Upset over the last two weeks where there have been issues regarding supply of fish that has led to a scarcity of fish in the market, traditional retail fish vendors are also upset over the sale of fish by non-Goan fish vendors outside the dedicated market.
While addressing media persons on Thursday, the retail women fish vendors spoke about an incident that occurred in South Goa.
They explained that they have been given a dedicated area in the retail fish market, like other markets where they sell their fish. They point out that there is retail sale of fish in other places like the wholesale fish market, which is not allowed and further it is being done by non-Goans, thereby killing the trade of local Goans. “Look at these places and see if there is one Goan there. What will happen to us if they are selling fish to consumers are places they are not allowed to, while we are facing problems at the retail market which is the area given to us,” said a fish vendor.
Not only this, they blamed the migrant vendors for bringing in stale and poor quality of fish that is ruining the market as well as consumers complaining about the quality of fish.
“How is the government not taking action? Is the government not interested in protecting the interest and rights of us who have been in this business for generations? They are not allowed to do retail sales of fish at the wholesale fish market. That market is just for wholesale trade. When we confront these non Goan vendors, sometimes they say they will stop but come back two days later. Sometime they are arrogant and tell us to go back to our market,” said a retail fish vendor.
Against that backdrop, Goenche Ramponkar Ekvott (GRE) has extended their support to the fishermen who have been protesting against the manner in which they are being displaced.
“The complaint raised by the traditional fisherwoman is genuine and the South Goa fishermen federation of wholesale fish market (SGFWFM) will fully support the traditional fisherwoman, which is a federation of 11 boat and traditional fishermen association. We had also demanded to stop the retail sale by the vendors in the wholesale market in order to stop the menace of illegal sale of fish by the non fishworker community,” said Vice President of GRE, Camilo Souza.
“It is sad that the municipality and the SGDPA (who are responsible for the market operations) have failed to control this illegal sale which is very evident in most places in Margao as well as at wholesale fish markets. Due to this negligence the traditional fisherwomen who are facing the heat in the retail market and likely to get displaced from their occupation as this is unauthorized sale of fish which is mostly sold cheaply because it’s imported in Goa by the traders,” Camilo added.
He also appealed to the concerned authority to step up the vigilance and immediately stops the sale of fish in authorized places and books all these illegal vendors
