Mangaluru: Trawl boats returning after their first deep-sea fishing trips of the season have reported drastically lower catches, as rough seas and strong currents continue to hamper fishing operations off the Dakshina Kannada coast.Trawl boats have begun returning after about 10 days of deep-sea fishing, following the end of the annual fishing ban on July 31. However, their catch this year has been considerably lower than during the corresponding period last year, with rough seas and strong currents hampering operations.Rajesh Puthran, the president of Dakshina Kannada Trawl Boat Union, told TOI the average catch per boat has been around Rs 8 lakh so far, against more than Rs 15 lakh during the same period last year.“We need another 20 days to get a clear picture. The cyclone has just passed, and the sea remains rough. Fishermen are finding it difficult to spread their nets properly. The catch may improve in the coming days if the weather stabilises,” he added.Around 600-700 trawl boats have ventured into the sea since the ban was lifted. According to Puthran, strong currents have made it difficult for fishermen to cast and hold their nets in position. Fishermen expect conditions to improve within two weeks, though another cyclone or spell of adverse weather could disrupt operations yet again.“Last year, the monsoon arrived early and the cyclone passed sooner, leaving the sea relatively calm. This year, monsoon was delayed and rough conditions have persisted,” he further said.To make matters worse, the sector continues to face a shortage of workers. Although some boat owners have recruited workers from other states, including Odisha, labour scarcity remains a concern. Fish prices have not declined because landings remain low. “Prices will come down only when fish arrivals in the market increase,” Puthran said.Weather alerts are also affecting fishing schedules. Boats operating in deep waters cannot return immediately whenever a heavy-rain alert is sounded. Boats that return to the shore generally do not venture out again until the alerts are withdrawn.Faisal, another trawl boat owner, said a recent alert warning of four days of heavy rain and rough seas added to the uncertainty.Meanwhile, fishermen have sought an increase in the annual subsidised diesel quota from 90,000 litres to at least one lakh litres per boat, citing rising operating costs. A trawler requires around 4,000 litres of diesel for each trip and receives a subsidy of approximately Rs 24-25 per litre.An official from the Karnataka Fisheries Development Corporation said fish prices were were likely to stabilise only after boat arrivals improved.
