Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (MS)

Udupi, Jul 23: Rain fury is reduced in the coastal region. The violent sea is also calmed down to a fair extent. Traditional boating fishermen got down to the sea after a gap of one month. They are ready to brave the winds and waves to make a living.

The traditional fishermen have to undertake fishing even if the weather is not suitable. During the rest of the season, these people work as labourers on deep sea mechanised boats. But for two months, when deep sea fishing is prohibited, they become owners of their traditional boats and undertake fishing.

This year the traditional boat fishermen have gone down to the sea with many expectations. Fishing during the monsoon is a game of luck. If the rain and winds begin, the fishing needs to be stopped. Traditional fishing is found in Gangolli, Kanchagodu, Maravanthe, Koderi, Uppunda, Padukere Mattu and Kodi Kanyana areas of the district.

Deep sea fishing will begin in the next 15 days. So the time of traditional fishermen is running out. They are fishing against time and weather to make as much as possible out of this season.

In the month of June, the traditional boats could not fetch more fish as it did not rain. Later, they could not get down to sea due to heavy rain and violent waves. Now they have to grab the opportunity for the next 15 days.

Gangolli is well known for traditional fishing. Hundreds of boats undertake traditional fishing at Madi near here. The area around the lighthouse here is known to give bounty of fish during monsoon. The fish that is caught here gets transported to outstation districts and states also.

There is huge demand for fish caught through traditional fishing as it is fresh. Prawns, mackerel, pomfret are the specialty of monsoon.

Traditional fishermen’s demand for life jackets is still not realized. Fishing during the monsoon is a big risk. At least in the coming year, the government has to look into this long standing demand of fishermen to protect their lives.