Mangaluru: Deep-sea fishing to resume from Sept 1

Mangaluru: Though the fishing holiday comes to an end on July 31, due to the Covid-19 scare fishing activities will not resume on August 1.

In the meeting of various fisheries organizations held in the city today (Wednesday, July 29) it was decided to resume fishing activities on September 1.

Speaking to Udayavani, Mangalore Trawl Boat Fishermen’s Association president Nithin Kumar said, “In the meeting of various fisheries organizations which was held today, we have decided to resume fishing activities on September 1, owing to COVID scare.”

According to Nithin, the major issue is quarantine for the labourers returning from outside the state before the fishing season begins.

“There are about 1,200 boats in the fishing dock in the city. As much as 75 percent of people working on these boats are from Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Jharkhand and Odisha. The workers had returned to their hometowns during the lockdown. Even if they return now, they need to be in quarantine for 14 days before they can start working, therefore we won’t be able to resume fishing activities on August 1,” said Nithin.

“We need to work out a procedure to make COVID-19-free fishing operations, after coming up with the plan we will discuss it with the District Commissioner and District in-charge minister. The issue of handling and transportation of the fish catch once it lands at the fisheries harbour also needs to be addressed as well,” he added.

He further added, “Once the fishing business begins, maintaining social distance becomes a difficult task. People come in droves, and the crowd is too huge to manage. If the fishing port area is sealed down after the fishing season begins, boat owners and workers will face heavy losses.”

“Earlier the officials had asked us if at least 25 per cent of the boats could return back on the same day, but it won’t be possible. Normally, more than 8-10 fishermen go for deep-sea fishing for 10 days in a boat. The mechanized boat crew members, who carry out fishing in shallow water, return after three days. However, a few of the purse seine boats return with the catch on the same day,” Nithin added.

Trawler boats and purse seine boat owners, fresh fish dealers, fish exporting companies, fish mill representatives, etc participated in the meeting held today.