Team Goemkarponn
PANAJI: The Goa government has clarified that there is no conclusive evidence of heavy metal contamination in fish caught off the state’s coast, responding to concerns raised over a study conducted by Goa University researchers.
Replying to a starred question tabled by Velim MLA Cruz Silva in the Legislative Assembly, Fisheries Minister Nilkant Halarnkar stated that the research in question did not specifically deal with “heavy metals” but focused on essential trace elements.
According to information received from Goa University, the study was carried out during the academic year 2023–24 by a faculty member and students of marine science, with findings published in December 2025. The university also clarified that the research was not funded by the government and was undertaken independently by the researchers.
On the methodology, the minister said the study adhered to established scientific standards. The research design, sampling techniques, and analytical procedures were detailed in the published paper, which appeared in the journal *Biological Trace Element Research*.
Addressing concerns among local fishermen, particularly from Caranzalem, the minister acknowledged that the community had expressed distress over the claims. In response, the fisheries department advised institutions such as Goa University and the National Institute of Oceanography not to publicise sensitive findings without prior government approval.
The department also sought inputs from the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB). Based on water quality data collected between 2021 and 2025 under the National Water Monitoring Programme, the board reported that levels of metals such as manganese, zinc, copper, cobalt, and nickel in coastal waters near Miramar were negligible or below detectable limits.
The GSPCB further noted that no direct link has been established between coastal water quality and the presence of metals in fish.
Meanwhile, the government stated that it has not raised any objections regarding potential marine pollution from offshore casinos or nearby outlets discharging waste into the sea.
The clarification aims to address public concern while underscoring the need for careful interpretation and communication of scientific studies.
