The Margao police on Wednesday intercepted a mini pick-up transporting fish at Aquem, Margao, and seized 110 boxes of fish. Police sources said that the police swung into action after Loutolim resident Alexander Araujo complained to the police suspecting that the vehicle was carrying formalin-laced seafood. The fish was being transported from Betim jetty to the fish meal plant at Cuncolim industrial estate, police sources said, adding that the vehicle driver was found in possession of the purchase receipts of the fish. Health minister Vishwajit Rane said the consignment has been sent to the garbage treatment plant at Saligao to be destroyed. The person transporting the fish didn’t have documents and hence it was seized, he said. Any fish transported without proper documents will be destroyed at the Saligao garbage treatment plant, Rane said. The police will investigate and submit a report, he added. Margao town police have contacted the directorate of food and drugs administration (FDA) for further action. With incidents like these, the public is losing faith in the quality of fish in the markets. Citizens now flock to beaches to directly purchase the day’s catch from ramponkars, traditional fishermen told TOI. On an average day, we have at least 300 people at the beach to purchase directly from us. On days when we have a bumper catch, we can provide but on days when there is a poor catch, it goes on first-come-first-serve basis, said traditional fisherman Ronnie Fernandes. Fishermen said that the current season is favourable for mackerels and kingfish. While 15 pieces of mackerels go for Rs 100 from the canoe, kingfish sells at Rs 100 for three pieces. If this persists through December and January, and there is no illegal bull trawling or LED fishing, we will be able to sustain the season, said another ramponkar.