Retailers procure fish from TN, Andhra due to fishing ban

Mangaluru: With the annual fishing ban coming into effect on June 1, fish prices have surged, according to traders and fishermen. While trawl boats are not venturing out to sea due to the ban, traditional boats have also been unable to venture out because of high tides, resulting in a reduced fish catch.

Local fishermen say that mainly cold-stored fish is currently being sold across the city. Ashwath of the Karavali Mula Meenugarara Sanghatane, said that traditional boats have completely stopped venturing into the sea owing to the possibility of storm, and are expecting to restart either by June 25 or July 1, depending on the conditions.

Mahesh Kumar, managing director of the Karnataka Fisheries Development Corporation (KFDC), said the current retail prices in Mangaluru are around Rs 420-430/kg for mackerel, Rs 1,500-1,550 for seer, Rs 1,500 for white pomfret, Rs 400 for pink perch (madmal) and Rs 200 for silver fish.

He said that last year the prices were around the same range, with slight differences, and may increase further before declining in July, as supplies from other states like Andhra Pradesh enter the market.

Ashraf, a fish dealer from Bunder, said that after the fishing ban gets lifted in Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Odisha, Mangaluru gets fish from there, and is transported through trucks. If transportation and supply is more, then the rates go down, however it depends on market conditions, he added.

Meanwhile, retailers in Bengaluru are also feeling the impact. While most retailers source mix fish from Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, some Mangaluru-based shops demand local fish from the city or Malpe.

Jeevan Anand of Mangalore Fish Shop in New Tippasandra said that fish supplies from Malpe and Mangaluru have decreased, and rates have increased by around 20%, they plan to procure fish from Andhra Pradesh, where the fishing ban is ending June 14.

He further said in May rates for Indian mackerel was around Rs 350, now it has jumped to 490 per kg, sardine current rates are Rs 480/kg, while during normal timing it is Rs 300-380/kg. “We will procure fish from Andhra Pradesh or Tamil Nadu, transportation charges are almost all the same,” said another retailer from Yelenahalli.

Proprietor of Mangalore Fish Basket in Kattigenahalli said that the rates have spiked, and that vendors help us procure fish from Tamil Nadu or Andhra Pradesh.