Freshwater species of fishes a delicacy for rural Goa

On account of the covid-19 pandemic protocol, the availability of seafood has been badly affected; this has prompted the people from rural areas to catch freshwater species. 

The protocol of covid-19 and occurrence of Tauktae cyclone has affected fishing of seafood and this has declined the fish catch as well as supply. The fish-curry and rice is the staple food. Living without fish curry has been uneasy for the majority of the Goans. However, those who are living in villages are going into freshwater streams and rivers for fishing.

Chandrakant Aukhale, from Pissurle says, "I love fishing. Besides angling we use nets for catching freshwater fishes. Our family enjoy ambot-tikhat preparation of freshwater fishes."

During the summer the water level has been drastically reduced, making fish together in the large numbers inside ponds created inside the streams and rivers. The villagers go here and catch the freshwater fishes. Goa's freshwater streams and rivers have the local varieties of fishes like Maral, Valay, Dekale, Kaday, Khavale, Toki, gavti sungta and kullyo.

Villagers after catching these fishes remove the unwanted parts and clean them and roast it in the fire, after which they enjoy the delicacy. During onset of the monsoonal rains Goan love to catch freshwater fishes that are entering into the sporadic flow of rainwater into agricultural fields locally known as Chadhaniche mashe.  

As part of the efforts to catalogue the freshwater fish diversity of the Western Ghats in Goa, researchers of Indian Council of Agricultural Research conducted surveys of the freshwater habitat in Goa from 2013 to 2014. This survey yielded 40 species of freshwater fishes, seven species of crustaceans and two species of molluscs. 

Pradip Gawas from Honda, who has studied freshwater fish diversity in Sattari, mentions, "The freshwater rivers and streams of Goa were once rich in freshwater fish diversity. Today, various species of these fishes are on the way to extinction. There is a need to conserve and protect this diversity by discouraging people from using explosives, and other harmful chemicals. Catching fishes in a traditional and sustainable way will help these fishes to thrive."