Four-day mega fish festival at Panaji

PANAJI : The state fisheries department is gearing up to organize a four-day Aqua Goa mega fish festival from December 7 to 10 at SAG grounds, Campal, Panaji.

"A variety of ornamental fish will be displayed. People will also be able to enjoy musical and cultural performances at the festival," said fisheries minister Vinod Palyekar.

Governor Mridula Sinha will inaugurate the festival on December 7, at 6.30pm. She will be accompanied by chief minister Manohar Parrikar, besides Palyekar. Union minister for fisheries Raja Mohan Singh is also likely to attend the festival on December 9.

"The aim of this festival is to encourage the youth to take up a career in the fishing industry. We will also try to create awareness about the illegal fishing practices in the state," said fisheries secretary Govind Jaiswal.

The event will have stalls selling some varieties of ornamental fish, while food stalls will have a wide variety of edible fish.

The organisers said a black box will be set up at the venue to screen short-films and educate school students about marine life. The Aqua Goa festival will also have seminars on the fisheries sector.

Retired persons from the fisheries department will also be felicitated at the festival.