Yahya Hallare
Daijiworld Media Network - Karwar (SP)

Karwar, Apr 16: It is a popularly known fact that people of Uttara Kannada district relish boiled rice only with mackerel curry. The district boasts of a overwhelmingly large populace which feels that meal not accompanied by fish can never satiate the appetite. Fish, they deem, is as important as the staple food itself. However, the present drought  in fish catches has snatched fish away from their menu. 

The fishing boats which did brisk business in August, September and October last year, have rarely left the shores of late, as they have not been able to get good fish catches. Since the last three months, the situation has gone from bad to worse, with most of the purse siene boats having been moored, while trawler boats continued to function, as the owners are trying to tackle the situation. These boats even find that the catches are not even enough to meet fuel cost. Even the country boats conducting fishing activity are deprived of  goodluck.

As usual, many fishermen have taken bus to Malpe and Mangaluru in search of greener pastures. The fishermen are so distraught that they are loosing interest in their traditional way of living. As such, the owners of boats many a time depend on immigrant labour from Odisha. The burden of loan is staring owners of boats directly in the eye. The risk of social inequality looms large if the situation does not improve in the coming days.

Costly fishes like pomphret, king fish etc which used to ring cash boxes of boat owners have completely vanished. Even mackerel and sardines are scarce. Mackerel has become five to six times costly. Common varieties of fish and crabs have also been commanding high prices now. Fish merchants from Goa, Ratnagiri etc have also been visiting  the district to make use of the situation, and are competing with local fisherwomen to sell the fish caught by them at their places, but this too has not resulted in slump in prices.

Assistant director in the department of fisheries, Chandrashekhar, admits that there has been a steep decline in fish catches since the last three months. However, he observes that trawlers and boats have been able to earn their maintenance. 'Fishes many a time migrate from one place to the other. This might be the reason for this situation. We hope that the situation will change for the better in the coming days, and bring smiles back on the faces of fishermen,' he hopes.