Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru (EP)

Mangaluru, Jun 13: As fishing in country boats only is allowed at present, fish from Chennai and Andhra Pradesh comes to Mangaluru. Following the ban on fishing in mechanized boats, demand for fish from other states has increased. Therefore several tonnes of fish in nearly ten lorries land in Mangaluru port on a daily basis.

The ban on mechanized boat fishing in West Coast was enforced for 57 days from June 15 to August 10 till 2015. However the union government, in order to prevent fish drought, has ordered uniform ban of 61 days in the West Coast. The ban is enforced together in Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka and Kerala. There is no ban in Andhra and Tamil Nadu during that period as they are on East Coast. There will be a ban in those states when fishing starts in Karnataka.

It is said that fishes have migrated from the coast due to excessive heat in May. As per scientific report from a fisheries college, fishes have migrated to Goa. “There is nothing new in it. The fish that was available to us last year is not available this year as it has migrated to part of the coast. But heat alone is not reason for this migration.” say officials from fisheries department.

As there is no catch in the area due to various reasons and also because of ban on fishing in mechanized boats at present, import from states of East Coast is a must and it can help in addressing the shortage at least for some time.