Goa closes gate for importing fish in state till August first week

Panaji, July 19: As a precaution to protect the health of the state’s citizens, Goa has banned the import of fishes from the neighboring states for 15 days. This information was given by CM Manohar Parrikar in a press conference on Wednesday.

 

The reason behind the ban is the wake of controversy over the use of formalin, a carcinogenic organic compound, which was reportedly detected in the fishes on Wednesday. Restrictions imposed on fishing along the western coast will end on August 1. 

In his tweet, CM Parrikar said, “In the interest of people of Goa, have issued directions to ban the import of fish in Goa for next 15 days. Fishing activity in Goa will resume in the month of August, hence plenty of fresh fish will be available to Goans.”

Notably, despite assurances by the Goa government and the state’s Food and Drug Administration that citizens need not be afraid of eating fish in the wake of a formalin scare, residents were not taking any chances and were keeping off the staple.

Thirty-five truckloads of fish from other places enter Goa every day during the ban period but in the wake of the formalin scare, fish shipments were down to 10-12 trucks on Sunday and dropped further to two to three trucks on Monday.

 

This follows decisions by Assam and Nagaland to ban fish shipments from the southern states, particularly Andhra Pradesh, for fear of formalin contamination in the past three weeks. Other states such as Kerala and Odisha have also conducted or sought formalin tests on fish from other places.