VASCO: The Vasco fishing boat owners on Saturday confirmed that they will continue to sell fish at wholesale rates at the jetty.
“The boat owners are also of the opinion that the migrants who are selling fish by the roadside in the port town should be stopped completely as it creates problems for the fish vendors sitting in the fish market shed,” said Michael Pereira, chairman of Vasco Fishing Boat Owners Marketing Cooperative Society.
The Mormugao Municipal Council has already rolled up its sleeves to construct the long pending fish market complex project in the port town. Although, there might be swift moves and efforts from the ruling council panel to make this project a reality, but to commence the construction work, the issue of relocating the existing retail fish vendors was a big question.
A joint meeting was held recently between the Vasco MLA, MMC councillors, chief officer and deputy collector to decide on the fish market complex, shifting of the fish vendors and to build a new temporary shed for these vendors.
There has been a strong demand from the retail fish vendors that the migrants’ illegally selling fish by the roadside should be stopped and the wholesale fish selling should also be stopped as it hampers the retail vendors business.
One of the councillors, who had come to inspect the site to erect the new temporary shed, met and interacted with the fisherwomen from the market shed. He assured them that the police and the municipality will take action on the illegal vendors selling fish by roadside. The fisherwomen also complained about selling of fish at wholesale rates by some fishermen and asked the councillor to stop them.
Reacting to the demand of fisherwomen from fish market shed, Pereira said that the society had a meeting and it was decided that the boat owners will continue to sell fish at the Vasco jetty. We will put up a gate at the jetty and inside our society premises we will sell fish at wholesale rates.
Pereira also pointed out that during the COVID-19 pandemic time, the fish market was shut and there were no retail vendors. Since then the customers have come us to buy fish at cheaper rates on weight measurement. We sell fish per kilograms whereas the retail vendors sell as per the share of fish and the prices for the customers seem to be high as compared to wholesale rates.
When asked, whether he feels that the illegal migrants selling fish by the roadside at different locations should be stopped, Pereira said the illegal activity must be stopped as it will affect the retail vendors.
