more-in Are you worried about chemical-laced fish available in markets? Here is some relief. The two fish stalls of Matsyafed run by Kerala State Co-operative Federation for Fisheries Development Limited, one underneath the E.K. Nayanar Flyover at the Aryadathupalam Junction and the other at Thiruvangoor, have been catering for the city residents for quite some time. Slowly, customers are moving from their local stalls to these Matsyafed outlets; and one reason many cite is that the fish sold are fresh and of good quality. “One can really feel the difference in taste,” said P.S. Abdul Gafoor from Florican Road, who used to buy fish regularly from Thadambattuthazham and the Central market. However, rates are pretty high, especially during the trawling ban period. “But nowadays people do not want to compromise on their health after consuming formalin or ammonia-laced fish,” he said. M.O. Valsa Joseph, district manager, Matsyafed, told The Hindu on Thursday that the fish is directly purchased from fishermen as soon as their country boats reach the shores at Puthiyappa, Chaliyam and Chombala at dawn. Sometimes the price of a box of fish, which comes to ?2,000, may go down to ?1,000 after a bulk landing at 7 a.m. “Since we purchase the fish as soon as the catch arrives, we are forced to keep the rates high. Yet, the demand is high during the trawling season. But fresh fish have takers and that is why fish eaters flock both stalls,” she added. Even the commonly available mathi (sardine) and ayala (mackerel) are priced between ?200 and ?250 a kg. The prices of karimeen (pearl spot/green chromide) as well as aavoli ( white and black pomfret) range between ?450 and ?500. However, the price of aiykoora (king fish) is between ?1,100 and ?1,200. Similarly, the prices of netholy (anchovy), choora (tuna), vatta (bluefin trevally), kora (threadfin bream, pink perch), unnimary (finned bulleye), therandi (ray fish), sraavu (shark), kanava (squid), karal/mullan (silver belly/ pony fish), maran (mullet), and parava (white fish/false trevally) depend on the catch of fishermen. Ms. Joseph said that the Matsyafed as far as possible would avoid middlemen. “Plans are afoot to open more stalls,” she added.

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