Alappuzha: In the raids across the state, the officials seized over 40 tonnes of stale fish till Wednesday. It is reported that stale fish brought from other states are procured in the coastal regions of the state for sale. The fish merchants are illegally procuring the stale fish to take advantage amid the lockdown.

All districts in the state, including the high ranges, are collecting fish from the coastal districts. Because of this, the business lobby has been focused on the illegal sale here.

Fish to places including Pathanamthitta are being transported as load from Neendakara.

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Stale fish seized from Kannur.
Photo Latheesh Poovathur

Fish brought from Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat and Tamil Nadu are being procured at fishing harbours including Neendakara in the state. These illegal vendors join hands with the people who auction the fish caught by fishing boats. By showing the fresh fish, they sell the boxes of stale fish to the retail fish merchants. Due to this, even houses close to fishing harbours are receiving stale fish.

Such fraudulence is being reported from Alappuzha, Thiruvananthapuram, Kozhikode, Thrissur, Malappuram and Kannur. 

In Alappuzha and Kannur, fish loads misleading the public to be of export quality are sold in the retail market.

In some places, stale fishes are taken for production of fish oil and fertilizers.

The food safety department has launched raids against stale fish sale under ‘Operation Sagar Rani’ from last Saturday.  So far, officials conducted over 500 raids in 14 districts. On Tuesday, 35,524 kg stale fish was seized in the state.

The officials recovered stale fishes from various centres on Wednesday also. With this, over 40 tonnes of fish were seized in the state-wide raids.

In the wake of the coronavirus outbreak, only traditional fishing boats are allowed to venture into the sea. Unfortunately, these fishermen are having very low catch compared to previous days.

It is examined that fish loads are taken to Kerala from other states to earn more profit during the Vishu and Easter festival season.