SHILLONG, Aug 2 - Meghalaya Government today said that it would regulate the fish market once the ban on import on fish is lifted and also investigate the source of formalin in fishes.
Addressing the media, Fisheries Minister Comingone Ymbon said, it is important the fish markets in the State is regulated after the fish dealers refused to sell all fishes, though the ban was specifically on fishes packed in ice imported from States like Andhra Pradesh.
The Minister said that Fisheries department would hold a review meeting once the ban is lifted and several issues would be discussed including regulation of the fish markets in the State.
�We have started our investigations and trying to find out the source which injected formalin in fishes. We will be discussing the findings during our review meeting,� Ymbon said.
Meghalaya banned import of fishes packed in ice for fifteen days from July 23. The decision to ban import of ice-packed fishes was taken after officials found at least nine samples laced with formalin.
After the ban was imposed the fish dealers refused to sell fishes and are not procuring and selling fishes from States like Assam, which are usually not packed in ice.
Ymbon further said that the Aquaculture Mission in the State has not been able to produce the requisite amount of fishes in the State. He informed that the Mission would be given a renewed impetus this year to help close the gap between demand and supply of fishes in the State.
