Mangalore: Tumultuous Sea - ‘Laila’ Robs Livelihood of Fishermen
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (SP)

Mangalore, May 21: Hundreds of fishermen have anchored their boats in the old Bunder area in the city, as the cyclone, ‘Laila’ has given rise to disturbances in the sea. Many of these boats returned to the shore as soon as the department sounded a warning about the cyclone. Since the last two days, none of the boats have gone into the sea for fishing.

A few of the boats did try to conduct fishing activity, but giant waves and choppy sea drove them back to the port. Many bigger boats that had left the port five to six days back, also have rushed back, apprehending danger.

The volatility in the sea because of the cyclone creates problems both for the movement of boats and the availability of shoals of fish, and controlling the boats becomes very daunting task, the fishermen say. If the cyclone affects do not die down soon, the fishermen, who have of late been having good catches after a lean period, will face lot of problems, as deep sea fishing is normally banned for two months from June 1 onwards because of monsoons and fish breeding season.

State revenue minister, Jagadish Shettar, held a video conference with all the district deputy commissioners of the state on Thursday May 20, about the need to take steps to ensure that the cyclone does not have any devastating affect in the state. The cyclone has been playing havoc in North Karnataka. The district administration has issued instructions to the fishermen not to leave the shores for the present.