Fishing banned ten days ahead of season

Fishing has been banned in the coastal areas of the district for 46 days with effect from Friday in the wake of monsoon.

The ban has been effected ten days ahead of the fishing season as the catch has decreased.

Except for traditional fishing, mechanised fishing has been banned till July 31, as it is the breeding season for fish. The fishermen in the ports of Karwar, Belekeri, Tadadi, Kumta, Honnavar and Bhatkal are busy bringing their boats ashore in the wake of the ban.

There are 2,182 mechanised boats in the districts including purseine, trawlers and deep sea trawlers. During the last fishing season, the catch was 88,859 metric tonne registering a turnover of Rs 31.41 crore. This year, however, there is only a gradual increase of 800 MT.

Like every year, even this season sardines formed a major part of the catch. As much as 46,000 MT of sardines have been caught while mackerel with 29,000 MT occupies second slot.

Of the 132 varieties of fish listed in the Fisheries Department, only 53 varieties mainly anjal (seer fish), geedara (tuna), white and black manz (pomfret) and prawns have been caught this season. Except for sardine and mackerel, the decrease in the catch of other varieties of fish has been a major concern.

The varieties of shear  fish and pomfret, which were found abundantly just a decade ago, are becoming rare as days pass. Fishing by foreign trawlers in the deep sea even during the ban season has led to the low yield, said fishermen who added that sardine catch was low this season compared to previous year.

Fish are moving to cooler places due to global warming. Sardines, especially, are moving northwards, said Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute Scientist Philipose.