Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi

Udupi, Oct 28: Owing to continuous rainfall and the impact of the recent cyclone, deep-sea fishing boats have once again returned and anchored at Malpe harbour.

Not only at Malpe, but several boats have also been parked along the backwaters near Baputota. Fishermen said that unpredictable weather conditions at the very beginning of the season have already caused significant losses. With repeated cyclonic warnings, venturing into the deep sea has become difficult, leaving the fishing community in distress.

Just when trawling restrictions had been lifted and boats were preparing to set sail, strong winds and heavy rain forced them to remain docked at the harbour. Fishing activities were possible only for a few days in August, and intermittent cyclones disrupted operations in September as well. The renewed spell of rain and wind this month has again halted deep-sea fishing, they added.

Compared to last year’s season, a few boats initially managed to catch good quantities of prawns and sardines, but many others have not been as fortunate. “Even though fish are available in the sea, the conditions are making it impossible to go out and catch them,” fishermen said.

“Usually, August, September, and October are the best months for fishing, but this year, due to adverse weather, activities have remained far below expectations,” they lamented.

Malpe Fishermen’s Association president Narayan Karkera said, “At the beginning of the season, many boats could not go out due to a shortage of workers. Though workers from other states have now returned, the cyclone has again made fishing impossible.”

He added, “Even for boats that managed to go fishing, the catch of mackerel has been low. Some boats were lucky with good hauls, while others returned empty-handed. For the last four to five days, due to the cyclone, boats have returned to shore. A few Malpe boats have even anchored at Karwar port. So far, this year’s fishing season has not been satisfactory.”