the goan I network
MARGAO
Fish-loving Goans may have to go without fish from April 2 as the Director of Fisheries has ordered a total stop to all activities at the jetties till the lockdown is lifted by the government.
In fact, a latest circular issued by Fisheries Director Dr Shamila Monteiro have mandated all the mechanized vessels to anchor at safe zones along with crew after unloading their catch when they return to the jetties on March 31.
The boat owners, however, have been entrusted with the task of taking care of their crew ensuring that the crew members are provided with sufficient ration, water and other materials required while on fishing vessels or other shelters during the lockdown period.
While issuing a direction to the vessel owners to stop all activities at the fishing jetties by April 2, the Fisheries Director, however, has exempted activities such as providing ration and other materials required for the safety of the crew.
The Fisheries Director has also impressed upon the vessel owners to ensure that the social distancing and other precautionary directions issued by the various government authorities are maintained and followed.
On March 24, the Fisheries Department had informed the fishermen, including the mechanized boat owners not
to venture out for fishing until further notice. However, it had come to the notice of the department that some of the fishing vessels which had already ventured out for fishing are returning back to the jetties for unloading of fish due to non-availability of ice and ration for the crew members. Accordingly, the department had issued another guideline two days later on March 26, permitting certain vessels to unload their catch at their respective jetties until March 31.
When The Goan team visited the Cutbona fishing jetty on Monday, a couple of fishing vessels had returned back with tonnes of Tuna, besides other variety of fish. While the Fisheries Director had earlier issued a circular asking the vessel owners to either store the fish in cold storage or dispose of the fish to the fish processing plant, some of the vessel owners are believed to have sold the fish at the jetties as well as in the villages after the lockdown came into force.
In fact, the lockdown at the jetties has come at a time when some of the vessel owners were mulling sale of fish in the villages by ensuring social distancing to make the staple food available to the common man.
The price of fish had skyrocketed manifold with unscrupulous traders taking advantage of the lockdown and the short supply from the jetties and from across the state borders.
