Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Feb 6: More than half the fishing activity of Udupi and Dakshina Kannada districts have come to an abrupt end. Normally, the boats get moored at the port after June. But unlike in previous years, thousands of boats have been anchored at the dock of Mangaluru port and Malpe fishing port, far ahead of their normal time.

Major causes for the decision to suspend fishing activity are fish famine, diesel tax concession that has not reached the fishermen since the last four months, rising diesel prices, salary of workers, cost of nets, ropes, iron items, ice and other maintenance expenses hike.

Fishing boats (file photo)

The fishermen, who were already harassed by the shortage of fish catches, had faced huge losses due to corona-induced lockdown. This year they hoped to achieve a turnaround but fish famine and other problems have made their lives miserable.

Dakshina Kannada district has 30,000 professional fishermen. The two districts together have over 4,800 boats but because of hike in maintenance cost, thousands of boats are now near the shores.

Fishermen say that unless each of the three trips which they undertake on an average every month results in fish catches valued at several lac rupees, they cannot meet the expenses. The non-disbursal of diesel subsidy and shortage of kerosene have added to their problems. As a result the prices of cost have gone up. But demand for specific kinds of fishes have come down and exports have suffered. The fishermen point out the high number of boats, industrial effluents reaching the sea, and higher than normal temperature for lack of fish catches. The fishermen are also fined five times the quantity of fish they have caught, if they cross Kerala or Goa limits whereas fishermen from other states are freely catching fish in Karnataka. The plea made to the government on this matter has failed to evoke any action and demand made for tax exemption on diesel has not got favourable response so far, says Krishna Suvarna, president, Malpe Fishermen's Association.