Vendors at the Nausori Market are expressing growing frustration over the ongoing issue of unlicensed seafood sales, which they claim is negatively impacting their businesses. The presence of these unauthorized sellers along the fish market corridor is making it increasingly difficult for licensed vendors, who pay market fees, to sell their products effectively.
Praveen Singh, a spokesperson for the Nausori Fish Market, has called attention to this issue numerous times, yet he feels his concerns have largely been ignored by the appropriate authorities. He emphasized that fish markets have designated areas specifically for sales to ensure compliance with occupational health and safety regulations, and stressed that seafood should not be sold anywhere outside of these designated zones.
Singh noted that the proliferation of unlicensed vendors has led many licensed fish market sellers to abandon their designated stalls entirely, opting instead to sell from outside the market, which has left their assigned cubicles empty. He also pointed out that the Nausori Town Council has neglected its responsibility to maintain the cleanliness of the fish market, which has forced vendors to take on the task themselves, exposing them to potential health risks.
Despite Singh’s efforts to communicate with both the Market Master of Nausori and the Ministry of Fisheries about these pressing issues, progress has yet to be seen. Meanwhile, FBC News has reached out to the Nausori Town Council and the Ministry of Fisheries for a statement, and they are still awaiting a response.
This situation highlights the challenges that licensed vendors face when competing against unregulated sellers, as well as the pressing need for local authorities to step up and address the concerns raised by the community. With unified efforts towards regulation and cleanliness, there is hope for a more equitable marketplace for the fish vendors in Nausori.
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