Palgarh, Dahanu fish catch safe for consumption: Biologist

There is a good news for seafood lovers hit by the recent oil spill as a marine biologist has claimed that the expensive fish catch for Mumbai comes far away from Bombay shores like Palgarh, Dahanu on west coast upto Gujarat and therefore absolutely safe for consumption.

However, not ready to take chances, the municipal corporation has begun conducting random checks in civic markets for contamination.

"Most of the expensive fish like ghol, rawas, surmai and dara are caught by 'gill net' far from Mumbai shore at Palgarh, Dahanu upto Gujarat where there is no oil spill on the western side right upto Gujarat," Dr B Chhapgar, formerly in-charge of the state-owned Tarapore Aquarium said.

"Lobsters for Mumbai come from Vasai, Manori, Uttan, Kore, Dativare, also from  west coast away from Mumbai port which is affected with oil spill following the collision of two vessels off Mumbai coast on August 7.

Chhapgar also said that since fish are fast swimmers if they find any danger in waters, they move to safer places soon.

Moreover, fishermen in Maharashtra including Mumbai do not venture into the sea officially in June to August (till the narial poornima day August 24), he said.

Earlier, both the chief minister Ashok Chavan and the municipal corporation had appealed people to stay away from the sea food for a while after the oil spill.

But the civic body has sent the seafood samples for testing in the laboratory for contamination, said assistant municipal commissioner (markets) Deepak Kamat.

"As the oil spill spread fast and thick off Mumbai coast, we have taken samples of sea food items like bombil (bombay duck) and prawns. These samples have been sent to labs for testing and reports will come within three days," Kamat said.

"Also we fear that small fishermen might start fishing activity as this is their only source of income. So we have commenced surveillance to avoid health hazards," he said.

Chhapgar said only the muskippers (nivti in Marathi) that are found in sea bottom and they are not good swimmers may not be safe to eat.

There is a danger of them getting contaminated with fine droplets of oil after the use of dispersants (chemical detergents to dissolve the floating oil which settle at the bottom of the sea affecting the habitat, Dr BF Chhapgar said.

However, in the mudflat region of Sewri in the east coast of Mumbai port where oil is permanently mixed with oil, (which is also a breeding ground for flamingoes), the mudskippers are eaten by the locals for the last 40 to 50 years, he added.