Panaji, Oct 27 (TOI): Vehicles bringing in fish into the state without transporter’s licence were on Friday evening stopped at the Canacona checkpost. Most of these vehicles were bound for the wholesale market in Margao. Only trucks carrying fish meant for export and fishmeal plants were allowed, a police official said.

The state machinery swung into action following a circular by the public health department (PHD) on Friday asking for strict and immediate implementation of licensing and transportation rules for fish traders. Health minister Vishwajit Rane, when asked if the order would create a fish scarcity in the state, said that his “concern is health safety” and hence the directive.

Fish traders had ample time to comply, says Rane

Directions were issued to the departments of police and transport after a meeting with chief secretary Dharmendra Sharma and health secretary J Ashok Kumar, Rane said.

The minister said traders were given ample time to register with the directorate of food and drugs administration (FDA). No wholesale fish trader has registered with the FDA till date though a first directive was issued in August.

“We extended the deadline during the last two months. They had ample time to comply,” Rane said, adding that even town and country planning minister Vijai Sardesai requested for strict implementation of the circular issued in August. Rane said the FDA would issue permission as soon as traders complied with the circular. “We will give licences within 24 hours. But first they have to comply with the condition set by government,” he said. President of the wholesale fish traders association Ibrahim Maulana confirmed that trucks loaded with fish were seized at Goa’s borders. “We will disclose our plan of action soon,” he said.

A trawler owner, who spoke to TOI on the condition of anonymity, said that they (trawler owners) were sure that the traders would stop Goa’s fish catch from being sent to Kerala. This would leave them with the only option of selling their catch in Goan markets, he said.

A local fisherman stating that there was no scarcity of fish in Goa, said the government’s failure to create infrastructure has forced them to sell the excess catch to exporters. A large of stock of fish is imported from neighbouring states owing to the tourism industry’s requirement. While local catch is sizable, it is not sufficient. The Travel and Tourism Association of Goa had strongly opposed extension on the July fish ban.