Kendrapada: Incessant rain and strong winds triggered by repeated low-pressure systems have forced large numbers of marine fishermen in coastal Kendrapada and Jagatsinghpur to suspend fishing activities for prolonged periods, leaving them in distress.Hundreds of fishing vessels have remained anchored at Paradip, Kharinashi, Jamboo and Talachua among other harbours, for more than two weeks due to persistent bad weather. “We are in deep trouble having faced three low-pressure systems in the sea within a month. A large number of fishermen are waiting for favourable weather before venturing into the sea,” said Pravat Mandal of Kharinashi village under Mahakalapada block in Kendrapada district.“We depend on the sea for our daily earnings. Incessant rain and gusty winds caused by repeated low-pressure systems in the Bay of Bengal have forced us to stay ashore. We are fishermen and expect bad weather, but persistent low-pressure systems have ruined our livelihood,” said Ambar Haldar, a marine fisherman of Paradip.Fishermen said the ongoing period is particularly important as it is considered the season for catching hilsa, which fetches good returns. “This is the fishing season for us to catch hilsa and earn more, but bad weather has compelled us to moor our boats at the fishing jetty,” said Manas Behera of Kharinashi.Heavy rain, low-pressure systems and cyclones routinely affect Odisha’s fishing sector. However, fishermen alleged that they receive little govt assistance during such crises. “We have no income and are facing serious financial difficulties due to the low-pressure systems in the sea,” said Tushar Mandal, another fisherman from Kharinashi.Rabindra Maity of Jamboo village said he had two fishing trawlers, both of which had remained moored at the Jamboo fishing jetty for more than 20 days for bad weather and rough seas. “I have to pay the workers’ wages though they have no work at hand,” he said.Prasanna Behera, president of Odisha Traditional Fish Workers’ Union, said fishermen were facing severe hardships because of the prolonged disruption in fishing activities. The authorities have been warning fishermen against venturing into the sea during adverse weather. “The fisheries department will take action against fishermen who venture into the sea despite adverse weather warnings,” said deputy director of fisheries (marine) Bibhuti Bhusan Rout.
