PARADIP: Traders and producers of dry fish, locally known as ‘Sukhua’, in Jagatsinghpur district have been warned against use of chemicals in drying the fish by the Fisheries Department. Apparently, the department has found that most of the dry fish in the market is laced with toxic chemicals that can cause killer diseases like gastric ulcer and gastritis in violation of the Orissa Marine Fishing Regulation Act, 1982.
Paradip is one of the State’s major dry fish production centre after Huma-Sunakhala in Ganjam district. More than 1500 families of Telugu and Bengali communities have been running dry fish business in Paradip for several generations and around 500 families are indirectly employed in the trade. Around 5000 tonnes of dry fish are produced in the area every year. The demand is high in Rourkela, Angul, Sambalpur, Bargarh and some parts of Western Odisha.
Usually, marketing of the seafood is done by the womenfolk of fishermen community. They have to go for door-to-door marketing or depend on local dry fish markets.
Following allegations of use of chemicals, the Fisheries Department recently conducted raids on dry fish production and sale units and seized samples for laboratory test. During test, it was found that toxic substances were indiscriminately used to preserve the fish and prevent its decomposition during the drying process, particularly in monsoon.
As far as the process is concerned, the fishermen sprinkle salt on the fresh fish and let it soak for a day. They then wash the fish with water and string them up in lines along the beach to dry. Sources said fishermen and dry fish traders process the fish by dipping them in buckets of water that have toxic drugs dissolved in it.
Since the practice came out in the open, the Fisheries Department is organising awareness campaigns among the fishermen and traders, said Assistant Director of Fisheries (Marine), Kujang, Biraja Prasanna Mohapatra. “Besides, we have served notices on dry fish traders and producers from whom samples were seized. They will be penalised for using chemicals,” Mohapatra said.
On the other hand, leader of local fishermen association Pitamber Tarai has demanded the State Government to set up a modern dry fish centre in Paradip where dry fish can be produced hygienically using solar dryers.