Goan fishermen, including traditional fishermen and boat owners on Thursday issued a warning that they will not allow the inauguration of the re-developed wholesale fish market scheduled on April 30 unless the issues plaguing the local fishermen in the market are resolved by the government.
A delegation of fishermen comprising of Jose Philip D’Souza, Savio D’Silva, Olencio Simoes and others called on South Goa Planning and Development Authority (SGPDA) Chairman, MLA Krishna Salkar and conveyed their list of demands, including reduction of sopo fee rate for the Goan fishermen. The delegation brought to the notice of the SGPDA the harassment meted out to the Goan fishermen by the sopo fee contractor in the wholesale fish market. Claiming that the Goan fishermen are being charged sopo fees within the market and outside, the fishermen have called to an immediate stop to what they termed as “loot” by the contractors.
Goenchea Ramponkarancho Ekvott Secretary Olencio Simoes said there’s a wholesale scam in the wholesale fish market when the market is meant for the traditional fishermen. He said fish markets across the country are controlled by the local fishermen, but in Goa it is otherwise. He demanded that the tender to collect sopo fees should be given to the fishermen. Saying the sopo fee collection confusion has been going on for years now, Simoes said until all the issues plaguing the fishermen in the market are resolved, they will not allow the inauguration of the market on April 30.
Jose Philip D’Souza told the media that Goan fishermen are harassed and not respected by the sopo fee contractor in the wholesale fish market. He said the PDA should implement the fees levied on Goan fishermen in both letter and spirit. “Goan fishermen are being charged sopo fees both inside the market and outside. Even fishermen bringing 2-3 baskets of fish are levied the hourly rate. This has to stop immediately,” he demanded.
Boat owner Savio D’Silva echoed similar sentiments saying the sopo fee contractor is charging higher rate on the traditional fishermen without any reason. SGPDA Chairman Krishna Salkar later told the media that he has assured the fishermen that their demands will be placed before the Authority meeting later this month. “I have already instructed the contractor not to charge the fishermen beyond the prescribed fees. They have further asked for reduction in the fees, which I said will be placed before the Authority meeting,” he added.
On the sopo fee tender, the PDA Chairman said the fishermen wanted the tender to run the wholesale fish market, adding he has told the fishermen that anyone can place bids for the open tender as and when it is floated.