Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Sep 11: The fishermen are happy as they have been getting catches of fish of the variety which can be exported. With this, they are happy that lady luck has smiled at them after a long wait, at the very beginning of the new fishing season.

Fishing had been hit hard by problems one after the other over the last year. Trawl boat operators have been getting fish catches of varieties like squids, Rani fish, etc this time. Even the purse seine boat owners are getting good catches. Fish lovers from the district are getting fresh fish of exotic varieties.

Fishes meant for export are sent to Kochi, Goa and Gujarat. 90 percent boats have started to undertake fishing activity after the diesel subsidy issue was sorted out. After a gap of two years, during which the fishing industry was hit by Covid, lack of workers, cyclone etc the fishermen have got something to celebrate. Hiked diesel prices had also affected them very much.

The fresh fishing season should have opened on August 1 after the fishing holiday. But because there was delay in getting diesel subsidy passbooks, most of the boats fully got engaged with fishing after August 15 after getting diesel without taxes at the diesel delivery point.

As the sea is calm now, the environment is ideal for deep sea fishing. Other activities that are dependent on fishing like ice plants, shops, hotels, fish cutting, transport and other sectors have also started to work full time. Fishing workers are getting good salaries and those who undertake door to door sale of fishes or in small markets, are making profits. Similarly, fishing at Malpe too has been good this time. The fishermen fondly hope that this environment will prevail throughout the year.