Mangaluru: Days after traditional fishermen ventured into the sea and reported low catch in the initial days, they have seen a slight improvement in the past few days, with some fishermen heading out even during rough seas. However, traditional fishermen fear a drop in fish prices once trawl boats resume operations after the ban is lifted on July 31.Ashwath, president of the Karavali Mula Meenugarika Sangha, said that this year, fish that typically arrive during the monsoon have not been seen, except for sardines. Fish varieties such as yellow croaker, croaker and prawns, which are typically landed in large quantities during this season, were found in lower volumes.
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He attributed the situation to changing weather patterns and uneven monsoon.Owing to pressure and inevitable circumstances, traditional fishermen are entering rough seas, we go up to the limited nautical miles and fish with fear in mind, he said. In the first week, fishermen reported catches worth around Rs 25,000 to Rs 30,000, and now, there has been a satisfactory improvement, with some fishermen reporting catches of around Rs 1 lakh. However, he pointed out that rising fuel costs is adding to their losses, as they need fuel costing more than Rs 30,000 per trip. Also, once purse seine and trawl boats venture into the sea, fish prices will fall as supply increases, he said.At present, sardines cost Rs 150–200 per kg, which may drop to around Rs 100, he said. “We are hoping that fishermen are able to land at least 500kg of catch and fetch around Rs 200 per kg, which would generate about Rs 1 lakh in revenue. However, not everyone is getting such a catch, and many fishermen are still incurring losses,” he added.He called ‘Bhutai’ (sardine) their saviour, as it is the only fish supporting them, and noted that fish population of other species have been declining over the past few years.Meanwhile, Chetan Bengre, president DK Trawl Boat Union said that preparations are underway and boats will be ready soon, but uncertainty remains over whether the catch will be good this time. He highlighted a shortage of labour, as workers who had returned to their native places, including West Bengal, have not yet come back.With fewer storms so far and an uneven monsoon, fishing operations have remained relatively manageable. However, if storm activity intensifies again, venturing into the sea will become difficult. For now, we are in a wait-and-watch situation,” he said With the hope of improved fish stocks , he stressed the need for a uniform law across the west coast.
