Goa: Fish catch dips marginally in last five years

Goa has witnessed fluctuations in the fish catch trend in the last five years, suggesting an overall marginal dip, the state Legislative Assembly was told today.

Fisheries Minister Vinod Palyekar said the fish export from the coastal state went up since 2013.

He was responding to a question tabled by Congress MLA Digambar Kamat.

The data placed by the minister shows fluctuations in fish production since 2013.

"The fish catch figures for year 2013 stood at 87,984 tonnes. The quantum of catch rose to 1,28,107 tonnes in 2014. In 2015 and 2016, the production dipped to 1,08,240 tonnes and 1,01,053 tonnes, respectively, before jumping to 1,20,430 tonnes in 2017," Palyekar stated.

He stated that the overall fish catch dipped marginally in the above period.

The highest catch netted in deep sea was that of sardine fish, followed by mackerels.

"In 2017, 38,551 tonnes of sardines and 29,511 tonnes of mackerels were caught by trawlers. In the same year, 9652 tonnes of prawns were harvested by fishermen," as per the data.

The minister said the catch of fish from inland waters also witnessed fluctuations during the period 2013-17.

Palyekar said the export of fish from Goa is on the rise in the last five years.

"A total of 33,939 tonnes of fish were exported from the coastal state during 2013. The export rose to 40,365 tonnes in 2014. The figures stood at 34,814 tonnes and 38,209 tonnes for years 2015 and 2016. The provisional figures of export for year 2017 are 44,444 tonnes," as per the data.

The state government had last month banned the import of fish from other states on reports of the presence of formalin in fish. The ban will be lifted tomorrow.