The catch has dwindled by half for the fishermen of Versova due to a variety of factors. Pic: Subuhi Jiwani / People's Archive of Rural India
Fish caught in Maharashtra are not promoted enough in local markets. The local fish, considered to be superior in quality are exported for lower prices outside the country.
Even restaurant associations refrain from purchasing these local fish and prefer to import lower quality fish such as the Basa. Why do we need to bring fish from outside when we have a superior quality of fish such as the local Tuna, Sakla, Ghol, Barracuda, Snapper etc, ask local fishermen.
Aslam Saiyad is an independent photographer and documentary maker. He learned photography from J. J. Institute of Applied Arts and was the Head of Department – Photography at Frameboxx Animation School and lecturer at Nirmala College, Ramesh Sippy Film Academy and Ecole Intuit lab and Shift Focus School of Cinema and Life. Aslam is the co-founder of Hallu Hallu – a walking project. The project believes that walking, observing and engaging is a way to destroy walls, both real and imaginary.It conducts a city visual interaction programme for architecture / Art students. He started working on documentation of rivers of Mumbai under the name Mumbai Rivers Photo Project.
The pandemic has changed the way in which fish is bought and sold in the city. But there are other factors too that have altered the entire fish economy.
