Gujarat to have 'fish malls'

Gujarat Fisheries Central Cooperative Association Limited (GFCCL) has approached several municipal corporations in the state seeking allotment of land for construction and development of ‘fish malls’, GFCCL sources said today.

GFCCL has written to the Vadodara Municipal Corporation (VMC) requesting it to allocate land for construction of a 2,500 sq ft mall. Similar requests have been made to Surat and Ahmedabad Municipal Commissioners, GFCL sources told PTI.

Gujarat Agriculture and Fisheries Department has entrusted GFCCL with the responsibility of developing these malls and making available several varieties of fish in retail and bulk quantities. The body has sought the lands from the civic bodies at token rates for a long period of time.

The fish malls would benefit all those seeking various kinds of fish by being a one-stop-shop for several varieties and also those who are in the fishing business. GFCCL is a state government promoted body with 277 cooperative societies and 2,927 individuals as its members.

GFCCL gradually plans to take this concept to all coastal cities in the state where demand for fish is higher.