Slump in sales, limited fish stock hit Salcete’s eateries

Colva: Restaurants along Salcete’s coastal belt, popular among tourists for seafood, are feeling the impact of the ban on imported

fish

. Combined with the 61-day fishing ban in the state, small and medium restaurants find it hard to cater to the crowds.

Joe Martin, owner of Martin’s Corner in Betalbatim, said that ever since the outcry of the presence of carcinogenic substance in fish imported from neighbouring states, business has dropped considerably. He said, “My Goan clientele has stopped ordering fish dishes. Tourists from Maharashtra, Karnataka and Kerala are also aware of the situation and hence the sale of fish dishes are down by 30%.”

Sudhakar Alamsetty, along with his wife and son, are from Hyderabad but residing in UK. Theirs was the only table at Martin’s Corner to order crab. He told TOI that he read about the formalin-laced fish controversy, but the star hotel where he is staying at is serving fish and they have eaten it and “since the hotel itself has suggested Martin’s Corner he has no fear”.

Martins says he went to the fish market with a big list, but managed to buy was just two giant sea perch which is not sufficient to run a restaurant . He added that since the formalin controversy, he has been buying from Atlas fish processing plant in Old Goa to keep the show running. He also said that starred hotels serve Basa fish which he has never served in his restaurant but if the situation continues he will also have to do the same.

Viva Goa, another tourist attraction in Colva, is equally plagued. Owner Francis Gomes says there is huge slump in sale of fish delicacies. Only north Indians who are unaware of the issue are ordering it and that has helped him stretch his stock. Secondly, he says that the prices of fish and seafood have skyrocketed and it is not viable to buy whatever is available at the existing price and sell it at the rates mentioned on the menu.