There is an acute shortage of fish in the market and exports too have been hit by the poor catch. | |
| According to Pramod Madhwaraj, fishermen's leader, fishermen simply do not go to the sea as the diesel prices are high and even if subsidised it is not viable as the catch is low. |
| |
| The fish catch came down from 95,644 metric tonnes in 2003-04 to 85,085 metric tonnes in 2004-05. |
| |
| This season the catch is 84,115 metric tonnes, according to Suresh Kumar Ullal, deputy director of fisheries. |
| |
| The catch of certain squid, prawns and mackerels is low while that of sardines is high. The production of fish is perhaps down due to over exploitation and pollution, he said. |
| |
| However, he denied that there is fish famine. As the prices of fish are decided by market forces the fishermen cannot increase the rates in accordance with the price of diesel. Hence the shortage of fish, he added. |
| |
| Ullal confirmed that fish catch is low. However, he said that it is not the season for fish such as sear fish and mackerels, and hence the shortage. |
| |
| The season for sear fish is over by March and the season for mackerels is May, he added. He denied that there is a fish famine. |
| |
| Meanwhile the prices of fish in the market have increased to a great extent and people resort to eating meat instead of good variety of fish. |
| |
| The cost of fresh sear fish itself has increased from Rs 150 to Rs 400 per kg. |
| |
| Moreover, as it is summer, the fish is kept in cold storage before it is sold and affects its taste. |
| |
|
| |
