Trading against the norms

June 21: Little balls of fish eggs with a bit of onion, a dash of salt and deep fried in mustard oil — a mouthful of illegal pleasure.

Blissfully unaware, hundreds of fish aficionados across the district are lending support to a racket that involves catching and selling fish with eggs — acts that are prohibited under Section 23 and 23 (A) of Fishery Act, 1956.

From April 1 to July 15 — roughly the breeding season of fishes — the Dibrugarh district administration has put in place prohibitory orders on netting so that some of the rarer local species are given time to breed and do not get wiped out for the benefit of the market and the palate.

But fish markets in Milannagar, Chowkidingee, New Market, Naliapool in Dibrugarh town are flooded with fishes of all varieties and the sellers lure the buyers with promises of “loads of eggs inside”.

The fisheries department has tried all tactics to rein in the illegal trade.

Officials have issued pamphlets and put up posters to create awareness against the practice.

The department has seized 20 nets from all over the district this season, but the trade is so lucrative that it does not deter the fishermen who are involved in it.

“The price of local fishes is sky high, the local variety of rohu is around Rs 300 per kg or more. Therefore, only seizure of nets will not do. The department will have to take strong action against the people who are involved in the trade,” said Rajib Mazumdar, a businessmen.

Some also allege that the racket of “a section of unscrupulous fishermen and fish merchants”, would not thrive without aid from the fisheries department.

A section of the fisheries officials, sources say, are hand in glove with the illegal fish traders.

“People from the fisheries department come and threaten us to supply them fish. Otherwise, they will arrest all of us. So, we supply them with fishes regularly to avoid being harassed. All officers from top to bottom are involved,” a fisherman said.

Another fisherman claimed that “they receive regular tip-offs from people within the department prior to a raid”.

So before you pop that fish pakora, remember all the people who worked legally and illegally to get it on your plate.