'Goa fisheries dept doesn't have data on imported fish'

The Goa government does not have data on fish imported from other states, Fisheries Minister Vinod Palyekar said today, a day after the coastal state temporarily banned the import of fish on formalin scare.

The government yesterday banned the import of fish till the end of this month, in view of the scare of formalin being found in it.

"The Fisheries Directorate collects the data of Marine and Inland fish catch from the respective jetties in Goa and data compilation is done on the average basis, based on the data collected by the department personnel on monthly basis," Palyekar stated in a written reply to a question submitted by the Leader of Opposition Chandrakant Kavlekar (Congress) on the quantum of fish imported in Goa.

The minister told the Legislative Assembly that no data was maintained as far as supply of fish for the domestic and commercial purposes is concerned.

"Further, the mechanism for other fish-related products and import of products from states like Karnataka, Maharashtra and Kerala is not available with the department," the minister stated.

Answering a query on the measures adopted to bring down prices of fish in the state, Palyekar said his department had purchased five Mobile Fish Stalls to sell fish to the people at a rate that is five per cent higher than the wholesale price.

Palyekar said four more mobile fish stalls will be procured.

The minister conceded that the Fisheris department didn't have technical persons to check the quality of fish.

"Whenever a complaint (of adulteration) is received, the same is forwarded to the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA)," he added.

The Goa Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) had earlier confirmed the presence of formalin in fish imported from other states.

However, the agency had later said the toxic chemical -- used to preserve bodies and prevent its decay in mortuaries -- was "on par" with its naturally-occurring levels in the sampled fishes and there was no added amount of it.

Amid a hue and cry, Parrikar yesterday announced the ban.