MARGAO: Fisheries Minister Avertano Furtado said that the department of Fisheries has taken a serious note of the cases of adding colour to fish and selling it to the consumers.
Furtado was reacting to the FDA raid at the Goa’s only wholesale fish market in Margao on Friday.
A team of FDA staff found that some colour being added to the fish and sold to the people, which is harmful and leads to cancer.
“The fisheries department had also attempted to raid these culprits. But I was told that the officials could not succeed. We had also tipped off the FDA on it on a couple of occasions. The FDA succeeded on Friday. I feel that there has to be strict action against those who do it,’’ the Minister said while speaking to this daily.
He said that he will discuss the issue with the director of fisheries on Monday, and would take decision on forming a team to monitor such activities. “We cannot allow such things. I am of the firm opinion that such persons should not be let free,” the Minister added.
The FDA after seizing the fish – 120 kg of Bombay duck and 160 kg of sole (lepo) for being ‘artificially’ coloured, ordered to bury it, and later a complaint was filed with the Margao police station. The police informed that the offence has been registered and investigation is on.