Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (SS)

Udupi, Jul 21: Fishermen have to often fight high tides to catch fish. During the monsoon, they weave colourful fishing nets which attract the onlookers while this activity gives them independence, a pride of place and a living.

Coastal districts receive copious rainfall during monsoon. Deep sea fishing is prohibited during the monsoon. Now, fishermen are stationed at the ports and are not engaged in any day-to-day brisk activity.

The sight of Mangaluru port is something to behold. There are rows of boats anchored and are resting during the monsoon. But, the fishermen continue to be busy as they are engaged in weaving something colourful. Yes, they are engaged in weaving big colourful fishing nets in Malpe port to catch large fish during the next fishing season. The fishermen community is readying itself with colourful fishing nets being weaved for the ensuing season.

In Malpe port alone there are more than 2,000 boats and each one requires nets measuring lakhs of metres. During the monsoon, fishermen are burning the midnight oil in weaving colourful fishing nets.

Fishermen are engaged in weaving and stitching fishing nets even at their old age and are leading independent lives by getting paid commensurate for their work. They not only weave new nets they also stitch up the old nets and ready them for fishing. The key raw material used for fishing is the net itself which has gained the status of industry as the business of weaving clocks a turnover of crores of rupees.