Clear skies, yet empty nets: Fish scarcity continues despite lifting of trawling ban in Kozhikode

Kozhikode: Even as the ban on trawling is over and the weather is favourable, fishermen here are not getting enough catch. After the trawling ban was lifted on July 31 midnight, more than 600 trawler boats from Kozhikode's fishing hubs such as Beypore, Puthiyappa, Koyilandy and Chompala ventured into the sea. However, there was no usual availability of fish.

Boats that leave soon after the lifting of the trawling ban, usually return in two or three days. State vice president of All Kerala Fishing Boat Operators Association Karichali Preman said this time many boats took up to 10 days to return due to the shortage of fish.

In the days immediately following the lifting of the ban on trawling, the weather was very bad. Due to this, many boats started two days later. The boats that returned initially bore huge losses. It was only after a week when the sea calmed down, they started getting fish.

After the ban was lifted, the fishermen who went out to sea got only small fish. And that too in a small amount. Ocean perch, salmons, squid, octopus and mushroom are commonly found. Although shrimp is also available, the price is low. 

A boat owner at Puthiyappa harbour, A K Rajaneesh said that they only get the amount to meet the expenses, and if this is the case, there would not be anything to reserve for Onam.

Depending on the availability of fish, the trawler boats spend three to ten days on sea. An average of 500 liters of diesel is required per day. The longer they travel, the higher the fuel costs. At present, most of the fish are found in Ernakulam and Kollam regions. 

Many on verge of attachment

Each of them has spent lakhs on repairing boats and buying nets. If a boat has to set sail into the sea, it costs about Rs 5 lakhs apart from the painting expenses. Many of them have arranged money by taking loans from banks and borrowings. Many of the boat owners are in distress as they are unable to pay the loan. If they do not get enough fish, many will be pushed to the wall.

More than 32,000 people are engaged in fishing in the district. Most of them are fishing in small boats. They mostly get sardines, anchovies etc. Availability of sardines is also very low.