MEMBERS of the public in Auki have called on the Malaita Provincial Government (MPG) and owners of the Auki Fish Market to connect running water to the market for vendors to wash their fish catches.
A regular visitor to the Auki Fish Market, Francis Folia said it is a regular practice that fish vendors usually collect salt water from the seashore to wash their catches before selling them at the market.
Speaking to Solomon Star Auki, Mr Folia said it is sickening to know that fish vendors usually collect salt water from the seashore to wash their catches for sale.
The regular customer at Auki Fish Market said the seashore of Auki are filthy and contaminated with human urine and wastes and therefore seawater collected there should not be used to wash fish catches intended for human consumption.
The concerned man said fish vendors should bring water from their homes to wash their catches before selling them to the public.
The concerned man then called on health authorities to conduct fish handling workshops for fish vendors to help them understand that using salt water collected from the Auki seashore to wash their catches is unhealthy and unacceptable.
Mr Folia then called on the Malaita Provincial Government to relocate the fish market to the Auki Central Market where there is running water and a proper place for fish vendors to wash their fish.
Fishermen and fisherwomen begun using the current fish market when the Auki Central Fish Market underwent extension and renovation.
When the renovation and extension works were completed, most fish vendors refused to reuse the Auki Central Market Fish Market, leaving only a few to sell their fish catches at the renovated fish market facility.
By WILSON SAENI in Auki
