Pareekshith Shet

Daijiworld Media Network-Udupi (JD)

Udupi, May 29: Known as the common man's fish, Sardine is being imported to Malpe and Mangaluru area since few months. Kerala, Puducherry and parts of Maharashtra also have started importing the fish mainly from Sultanate of Oman.

Sardine is the most sought after fish in the southern part of India especially Mangaluru region. But there has been no good catch of sardines in the local sea these days. Hence the import has begun. But it has not helped the common man. Due to its larger size and also because of import duties, imported sardines are priced high in the local market and hence sardines are beyond the reach of the common man.

Sardine is known as ‘Boothayi’ in Tulu and Kannada, has occupied a special place in the common man's meal through its unique taste and very less price. Since the availability of Sardines reduced in the Arabian Sea, local merchants decided to import the Sardines from Oman. These sardines have the same taste as the local ones, but differ only in the size.

Speaking to Daijiworld a customer Salaam shares his views this way. "Every day morning the sardine fish is brought to Malpe in two containers. First it is imported to the Cochin port and later it comes here. Due to extensive fishing in the West Coast and also the unscientific methods, we are facing the scarcity. Since Karnataka and Oman are at the shores of same ocean, the taste of the fish remains the same."

During the days of availability, 100 sardines were available for Rs 100, but now a box of 80 Oman imported sardines cost Rs 1,000.