Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru

Mangaluru, Jul 22: With Karnataka’s annual monsoon fishing ban in effect during June and July, large volumes of fish are arriving from Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Gujarat, and Odisha to meet the coastal state's seafood demand. As mechanised fishing resumes in Tamil Nadu and Andhra from July 15, fresh catch from these states has been making its way into markets across Mangaluru, Malpe, Kundapur, Gangolli, Bhatkal, Kumta, and Karwar through local commission agents.

Despite reports of abundant fishing in Chennai between July 15 and 20, this season’s catch from the east coast has been comparatively low due to recent cyclonic disturbances. Alongside these, Kerala’s traditional ‘naadadoni’ boats and distant suppliers from Gujarat and Odisha are also sending in fish to Karnataka.

Mangaluru alone hosts 26 commission agents who handle daily consignments of 40–50 lorries, each carrying between 50 and 200 fish boxes — totalling nearly 5,000 boxes per day. The fish is transported on ice, with Kerala’s supplies arriving overnight and those from Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, and Gujarat taking up to two days.

As per local regulations, fish-laden lorries must enter the Mangaluru fishing harbour by 5:30 a.m., with trade concluding by 9:00 a.m. Buyers include vendors from Moodbidri, Bantwal, Puttur, Sullia, Beltangady, and even from Manjeshwar, Uppala, and Kumbla in neighbouring Kerala.

The recent spike in fresh ‘boothai’ (sardine) supplies has seen price fluctuations. A 25 kg box was priced at Rs 4,000 on July 15, rising to Rs 5,000 on July 16, Rs 6,000 on July 17, and peaking at Rs 7,000 on Friday. The demand, especially from hotels, continues to drive prices upward in the absence of adequate local catch.

With Karnataka’s fishing season set to resume from August 1, fish from local boats will also begin flowing to other states. However, out-of-state supply is expected to continue. K Ashraf, president of the Mangaluru Fish Commission Agents’ Association, noted that while fishermen rest during the ban, commission agents remain in business year-round by sourcing from other states.

According to retail fish vendor Sridhar at the Mangaluru harbour, fresh fish such as bangude, boothai, kollatharu, manang, koddayi, ademine, and payya are now arriving from Manjeshwar, Thrissur, Ratnagiri, and local naadadoni boats.
In addition to fresh catch, ‘candy fish’ — iced and tightly packed fish with lower flavour and quality — continues to find buyers, particularly among certain hotels. Candy fish dominated the trade in June and is considered less appealing due to its dry, preserved texture. The market differentiates between first and second-quality variants.

Retail prices of fish in the Mangaluru market as of Friday varied depending on the type and size. Large bangude was selling at Rs 280 per kg, while the medium variety was priced at Rs 230. Boothai fetched Rs 300 per kg, large manang was priced at Rs 180, and the smaller variety at Rs 80. Koddayi was among the costliest, selling at Rs 320 per kg.

Ashraf confirmed that fish is being brought in from neighbouring states and sold to local small traders due to the ongoing fishing ban in Karnataka. Demand for fresh Tamil Nadu and Andhra fish is high, with daily prices subject to change.

While fish traders are busy, traditional boat fishermen (naadadoni) are grappling with an extremely poor season. Despite a full month since the start of the monsoon fishing window under the New Mangalore Port Authority (NMPA), only 15 days saw actual fishing activity due to inclement weather.

Suresh Shreyan, general secretary of the Mangaluru Traditional Boat Fishermen’s Association, and Ashwath Kanchan, president of the Coastal Karnataka Fishermen’s Association, expressed concern that the season might effectively end with minimal catch compared to last year.

Daily, 50–60 boats have been venturing out, but yields remain dismal. With the mechanised purse-seine and trawl boat fishing set to resume from August 3 and ice-loading beginning by July 28, hopes now rest on better conditions in the weeks ahead.

Community leader Giridhar Kotian of Doddakopla pointed to potential causes for the fish scarcity, including unscientific fishing practices like bull trawling and light fishing, as well as marine pollution from plastic waste.

Kotian called for a national fisheries policy to regulate harmful practices like bull trawling. He noted that states like Kerala continue to allow such methods, making it challenging to shift the mechanised fishing season to September despite some recommendations — largely due to the significant investments already made in August operations.

A consultation meeting on this matter has reportedly been scheduled.