The fish auction Bill, aimed at modernising the primitive mode of auctioning at fishing harbours in the State, is expected to curtail exploitation by middlemen and provide unadulterated fish to consumers.
The Kerala Fish Auction, Marketing, and Quality Control Bill, approved by the State Cabinet recently, proposes to regulate the operation of fish-landing centres, fishing harbours, and markets under a professional management system. It will ensure the safety of seafood.
Fisheries Department officials say the Bill is part of the government’s continuing efforts to free traditional harbours from the domination of middlemen who are blamed partly for the perpetual indebtedness of the fishing community.
A transparent auctioning system under a new committee headed by the District Collector will be a major feature of the Bill.
Role for Matsyafed
“The Kerala State Cooperative Federation of Fisheries Development (Matsyafed) has been making productive market interventions to bring in some order in the sector and provide unadulterated fish to the consumers at affordable price. But, it has also been helpless in several areas,” said Fisheries Deputy Director Mariam Hazeena.
She said the Bill was likely to give more teeth to Matsyafed to take forward the interventions.
Though the Bill has been approved by the Cabinet, its detailed provisions are yet to be made available to the district units of the Fisheries Department or Matsyafed.
As per the preliminary details, the conventional auctioneers will have to end their traditional type of auctioning at the harbours and secure prior permission for at least three years to pursue the business.
They will be asked to submit an application to a designated officer for clearing the application and allot a specific place for carrying out business.
Ordinary buyers
Also, one of the major changes going to be effected in the business is the opportunity for ordinary buyers to take part in the bulk- or small-quantity auctioning of fish. Now, local buyers are hardly encouraged to take part in the auctioning process manned by a few middlemen at harbours.
Many a time, only cheaply priced varieties reach the auction hall as middlemen carry out the trade of superior varieties for third parties even before unloading the fish at the harbours.
The Food Safety Department squads too are keen on the implementation of the Bill as it will largely restrain the trade of adulterated fish at the beginning point itself and ensure better access for the common buyer to have quality fish.
Food Safety Officer P. Jithinraj says the Bill will make the business more healthy and transparent.
