Prices likely to fall as fish catch surges in DK coast

Mangaluru: Dakshina Kannada district has recorded an increase of over 11,000 tonnes in fish catch in 2019-20 compared to previous year.
In 2018-19, the district had recorded 1,59,852 tonnes of fish catch worth Rs 1,716 crore. In 2019-20 the fish catch was1,71,692 tonnes valued at Rs 2,031 crore. The district recorded an increase of 11,840 tonnes in fish catch in the last fiscal year ended on March 31.
The difference in the quantity of fish catch and the value is very large compared to the statistics of nine years ago. In 2011-12, the quantity of fish catch was 1,37,435 tonnes valued at Rs 641crore. The fish catch has increased by 34,257 tonnes and the value jumped to Rs 1,390 crore between 2011-12 and 2019-20.
The increase is recorded despite fishing season being not too good for the fishermen, who had to face difficulties due to threat from Okhi, Kyarr, Maha cyclones. However, spread of Covid-19 did not affect the financial year as lockdown began in India only in the last week of March. Officials of the fisheries department expect an ease in the prices of fish due to the increase in the catch.
Meanwhile, the central government has reduced the annual 61-day deep-sea fishing ban period to 47 days. Accordingly, fishermen engaged in deep-sea fishing in the Karnataka coast will get additional 14 days for activities. The new ban period along the West coast is from June 15 to July 31.
Fisheries department deputy director P Parshwanath told TOI that the increased human efforts combined with technology helped fishing industry see growth in the district.
“Fishing effort has increased and the investment in the industry also gone up. Similarly, the number of boats and fishermen also has increased considerably. As a result, fish catch is good,” he said.