SHILLONG: The state government may carry out test on fish packed in ice and imported from other states following a ban on such fish by two northeastern states.
Nagaland and Manipur recently banned imported fish packed in ice since there were traces of formalin, a preservative, which is harmful for humans.
Fish products imported from Andhra Pradesh were also seized in Kerala recently after formalin traces were found in them.
A senior official dealing with fisheries said the department will collect samples of fish to be tested in the laboratory at ICAR, Umiam.
According to an assessment made in May 2017, the demand for fish per annum is 30,000 metric tonnes (MT) while production is only 8,000 MT and hence, 22,000 MT of fish is imported, especially from Andhra Pradesh.
Fish ponds used for gambling
The state government’s aqua culture mission was affected after the pond owners resorted to fishing competition or gambling instead of taking the fish products to the nearest market.
Out of 25,000 fish ponds constructed with the loan from banks assisted by the state government, many of the 17,000 ponds were used for gambling, thereby defeating the purpose of ensuring self-sufficiency in fish production, a fishery official added.
