Fish prices on the rise in Karavali

Mangaluru/Udupi: The effect of the Lok Sabha election has also touched fishing in karavali. Most of the labourers working here are from Andhra, Tamil Nadu, Odisha and Kerala, and as they have returned back to their respective hometowns to cast their votes, the lack of labourers has risen. Consequently, fish prices have also risen.

The third phase of the election will be conducted on April 23^rd and the first three phases of the election will be held in Odisha. Thus the lack of labourers from Odisha may persist till April 25^th, informs Mangaluru Trawl Boat Association. More than 700 boats at Malpe fisheries port and more than 200 boas at Mangaluru fisheries port have remained anchored and hence, the fish prices have soared.

Most of the boats from Mangaluru sail towards Maharashtra, Goa and Ratnagiri. When the boats return back to the port post their fishing trip, they carry a fish cargo worth almost Rs 7 lakh. But due to the increase in the number of boats and changes in the weather, a loss of up to Rs 75,000 is incurred. This loss is rectified by pushing in on to the customers.

Drop by 30%

Fishing has begun from August and there is a drop of almost 30% in fishing in comparison to last year, says Satish Kunder, leader of the fishermen. There is an extreme lack of fish. Mainly, there are no Kingfish and Mackerel which have the most demand, he informs.

Rise in fish price

Normally, the price of kingfish in DK, Udupi market is Rs 600/kg. Now it has risen to Rs 800. Silverfish which was priced Rs 180/kg is now Rs 250. The price for a medium sized mackerel has risen to Rs 150 from Rs 90. Medium sized croaker fish is now priced at Rs 180/kg from Rs 140/kg. The prices of sardines and mackerel have risen to Rs 200 from Rs 150 and Rs 180 per kg respectively. Kingfish prices have doubled from Rs 800/kg to Rs 1,200/kg. The rise in the fish price and also the lack of fish has become a cause of concern for a few non-veg hotels in the city.

“The lack of fish and the elections have caused the rise in fish prices. People from Tamil Nadu and Andhra have returned back to their hometowns and since a week, almost 250 boat have not ventured out into the sea,” informs Nithin Kumar, President, Trawl Boat Fishermen Association

“The lack of fish in sea has adversely affected the fishermen. The yearly fall in fish resource is frightening,“ says Satish Kumar, President, Fishermen’s Association, Malpe