Excited fishermen hope for a good catch as ban ends on Friday

Mangalore / Malpe, August 8: After a gap of over one-and-half-months, fishermen of the west coast are happy to venture into the sea to fish in their mechanized boats.

Though the Union government imposed ban on fishing by mechanized boats will formally be lifted on Friday, August 10, most of the deep see fishing boats have begun their voyage after August 3, a day after Samudra Pooja. However they are not supposed to return with their catch before the end of the ban, said Coastal Karnataka Fishermen Action Committee general secretary Vasudeva Boloor.

President of Mechanized Boats Owners Association, Malpe, Gopal Kunder, said that from Malpe alone, over 700 such mechanized boats would go for fishing this week. The Mangalore fishing harbour, which is another important hub for fisheries, will have another 800 boats venturing into the sea.

Both Mangalore and Malpe fishing harbours have been buzzing with activity, with ice blocks being loaded onto the boats. Each boat requires over 100 ice blocks and each block weighs 150 kg. Thus, a mechanized boat would carry a minimum of 15,000 to 20,000 kg depending on the size and storage facility of the boats.

Usually a mechanized boat which goes for fishing in the deep sea will remain for 7 to 10 days at sea, with some remaining there for over 15 days. A portion of these ice blocks will have melted by that time. However, over 50 would have remained intact and can be used to preserve fish.

Gopal Kunder said each boat will be manned by a minimum of 15 persons and sometimes over 20, depending on the size and capacity of the boat. Fishermen in the coast are very optimistic that this year's catch will be abundant and they linger in the euphoria of their optimism.

The ban from June 15 was enforced under Coastal Fishing (Regulation) Act 1986 on deep sea fishing using mechanised and traditional boats fitted with engines of 10 horse power capacity or more. The 57-day long ban intended to allow fish to breed will conclude on August 10 in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts. In Uttara Kannada district the ban was in force only for 47 days till July 31.