Price of seafood sees steep rise in coastal dists Ashis SenapatiKendrapada: The price of seafood are seeing a steep rise in the coastal districts of Kendrapada, Jagatsinghpur and other areas of the state amidst the ongoing ban on fishing by mechanized boats and trawlers in the seas.For example, Pomfret fish, which normally sells for Rs 300 a kg, is now being sold at Rs 500 a kg. Some hotels and restaurants have decided to serve only freshwater fish for the time being. “We used to sell prawn at Rs 400 per plate prior to the fishing ban. Now we are selling at Rs 600 per plate,” Jagannath Prasad Das, a restaurant owner at Paradip, said.Ashok Behera (42), a fish vendor in Kendrapada, said, “The price rise was expected at this time of the year because of fewer fishing activities due to the ban. The price hike ranges between 30% and 100%.”The price of popular sea fish like Kani, Khanga, Khuranda, Bhekti, Khasuli, Eel, Ray Sting, Ray, prawn and other varieties, has gone up by 30 to 100%. Prices of other common fish species also soared, with Kani being sold at Rs 250 per kg. Prior to the fishing ban, it was being sold at Rs 150 per kg. “At the moment, our fish supply is limited and as such, the price hike is not in our hands . Some fish vendors stocked large quantities of fish in cold storages and they are now minting money,” Babaji Mandal, a fish seller at Rajnagar, said.Around 6,000 fishing vessels, including 1,726 trawlers, registered with the department of fisheries which bring in tonnes of marine products every day, remain moored at fishing harbours and jetties throughout the state, following the two-month-long fishing ban (from April 15 to June 14), keeping in mind the breeding period of fish. Small mechanized and non- mechanized boats less than 8.5 meter long, which use nets with big gaps, are exempted from the ban.
Around 6,000 fishing vessels remain moored at fishing harbours and jetties throughout the state
Around 6,000 fishing vessels remain moored at fishing harbours and jetties throughout the state
