Udupi: No Price Too High For Fish Lovers During Monsoon
 
Report & Pics: RK Durga Digitals
Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (RD/CN)

Udupi, Jun 28: With fishing in the ocean banned temporarily by the district administration, this coastal district has been witnessing a shortage of fish. The ban has been imposed to facilitate breeding of numerous species of fish in the month since the onset of monsoon.

But this has not dampened the spirits of avid fish eaters. River fish and those that are found in plenty in the backwaters, and rivulets, are now in great demand and sold at exorbitant rates. The fishermen fishing in rivers such as Papanashini, Udyavar, Brahmavar, and Pangala, using tenterhooks, handheld nets, and fishing rods are finding themselves busy during the monsoon. 

Known in Tulu ‘sudhemeen’, river fish, which are caught by seasoned fishermen fetch bigger sums in the fish markets across the district. ‘Maala’, ‘payya’, ‘irpe’, ‘yeti’, ‘kane’, ‘madenji’, ‘tikade’, ‘mugudu’, ‘yeri’, ‘bollitharu’, and ‘bollenger’, are the Tulu names of some of the choicest river fish which are said to be tastier than sea fish.  The ban on sea fishing has bolstered the demand for sweet river fish.
 
The sea fishermen are competing with seasonal fishermen who venture into the rivers with their country boats, during the nearly two-month ban period.  Although the prices of river fish are skyrocketing due to the rise in demand, there is no dearth of fish lovers seeking to buy the best of the lot from the markets.