The Navelim civic and consumer forum on Sunday demanded that the government should set up a permanent fish testing laboratory at the wholesale fish market in Margao. The forum also demanded that a full-fledged office of the legal metrology department should also be set up at the particular fish market. The government should work out a scheme on the lines of the scheme on fruits and vegetables from the Goa State Horticulture Corporation so that fish is sold at reasonable rates. Speaking to reporters after a meeting, forum secretary Joseph Vaz said that members were shocked, but not surprised, by the recent turn of events at the wholesale fish market of the commercial city of the state. The forum unanimously resolved to press for setting up a permanent testing laboratory at the wholesale fish market along with a full-fledged office of the legal metrology department at the same area so as to keep a check by inspectors on malpractices. The forum said that there are regular complaints about fish being sold underweight at the fish market, which calls for setting up of a legal metrology office at the fish market. Fish is the staple food of Goans. But the number of Goans falling sick, and even dying of cancer, has been increasing rapidly, he said adding that it is a matter of concern as even several elected representatives have fallen ill too. Goans are losing confidence in the government and have not liked the way some cabinet ministers are interfering in all matters which don’t concern them directly, Vaz alleged. The government should at least ban the sale of marine fish during the fishing ban period which will discourage illegal fishing. Moreover this will do justice to Goa’s trawler owners who stop fishing operations during the period, the forum said. Asking the government to ensure that Goans get good quality fish from Goan trawlers, the forum questioned the rationale of providing the subsidy to trawlers owners, who refuse to pass on the benefits to fish consumers. The forum charged that traders from outside Goa are controlling the fish business; they decide the rate as well as the quantity of fish to be sold in Goan markets.