from Lenny Barretto
for Daijiworld Media Network - Goa (MB)

Panaji, Jul 3: This is something one can say is the fact of life: someone's pain is other's gain!

While fishing ban is imposed in the state, the small-time fishermen are making merry. After being neglected for the entire year, one can see, people queueing up in front of these fishermen to buy fish. Whatever is available is picked up.

The trawlers are docked on jetties. Jetties are sealed. The sea is rough. And now people have to be dependent on the river fish.

All around throughout the year, sea fish is in great demand in Goa. There is ample fish. There are huge exports. But when it comes to June and July, the fishing ban seals everything. Scientifically, it is good to have such a ban. All responsible human being will support it.

The dry days bring to the fore the otherwise-neglected fishermen community, who venture into the river water or estuaries with their net. When it is a season, no one would even ask for their fish. But when the people are in need of fish, these people see their heyday.

Take a round of Panaji city or travel towards Ribandar and one would see many of such fishermen sitting and people thronging around them. This is a scene common during these days.

Also there are a few others, who try their hand at fishing albeit with failure.

So, the fact of life remains that when one door is shut, there opens another...