Karnataka: Mechanised fishing to resume operations off DK from September 1

MANGALURU: Mechanised fishing from the old port at Bunder here will resume on September 1. This marks a departure from norm where the 1200-odd boats would have sailed out for the fishing season that this year gets underway on August 1 after the completion of 47-day deep-sea fishing holiday on July 31. A decision to this effect was taken at a meeting of stakeholders from the fisheries sector in DK district who met at the old port on Wednesday.
Main reason for the delay in this year of ‘new normal’ is the need to bring back the migrant workforce who are the mainstay of this commercial activity. Majority of the workforce from Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Jharkhand and West Bengal are back in their native place, Nitin Kumar, president, Mangaluru Trawl Boat Owners’ Association, told TOI adding the decision to start deep-sea mechanised fishing from September 1 was collective one.
The meeting saw representatives from all areas of the fisheries sector, including boat owners and fish traders, buyers association meet before arriving at the above decision. “The stakeholders will meet officials from the fisheries department and the minister for fisheries to discuss this issue of arranging transportation and quarantine facilities for the migrant workers shortly,” he said adding a plan will be submitted after taking all these issues into consideration.
More importantly, we need a concrete plan on ensuring social distancing at the old port and the auction yard once mechanised fishing resumes to avoid the port getting sealed down in case of any Covid19 positive case getting reported there, he said. Around 1200 mechanised boats including 100-odd purse-seinners from the region dock at the port. Trawl boats and purse-seinners with varying crew complement venture out for fishing for differing periods.
The delay in resumption of mechanised fishing will not vastly impact availability of this staple food for most homes in the coast, Nitin said. The anticipated catch from traditional fishing boats that will resume fishing in full scale from August 1 will help, he said adding these boats are already unloading their catch at New Mangalore Port and this is making its way to the market. Besides, there will be fish coming in from other states as well, he added.