April 7, 2020
Goa government gives consents to fisheries cooperatives to restart the fish sale, no word on export as yet.
Fish is the staple food of people living near coastline of the country. Fish, a delicacy is also relished immensely on dinner table. Fishing and sale was banned since the enforcement of lockdown due to COVID-19 last month.
Goan fishery department has decided to permit the sale of fish in Goa from 6th April onwards, while observing certain conditions, including stringent application of social distancing guidelines to curb the spread of COVID-19.
Goa Fisheries Minister Philip Neri Rodrigues said in a statement, “The stock of fish which was caught before the implementation of ban is lying at different cold storages in the state. We also understand that people want to eat fish. They have stayed away from eating it for so long. So, to keep the balance, we have allowed the fisheries cooperative societies and associations to sell fish”.
“Nevertheless, the traditional fish markets will remain shut to stop the spread of coronavirus. We are trying to work out modalities on how to allow people to buy fish without the markets being opened. Nearly 500 tons of various marine products are lying in cold chains and needs to be sold off before it rots,” Rodrigues said.
All Goa Wholesale Fish Markets Association president, Ibrahim Maulana said that they welcomed the state government’s move to shut the fish markets in a bid to check coronavirus spread.
“But the main issue is about the fish stock which is already stocked in the cold storages,” he expressed his concern.
Ibrahim informed, “As much as 80 per cent of fish caught off the Goa coast is meant for export within the country and globally, while only 20 per cent is consumed in the state”.
“When we sell fish, we will have to see how much of it will really be bought in the markets,” he added.
To avoid the rush, fish vendors should make packets of one kilogram each and hand it over to the buyer rather than selling it in open, he suggested.