Fishermen are gearing up to venture into the sea on their maiden voyage post-annual conservation period with high hopes of a bumper harvest.
The forecast of near normal monsoon and the pre-monsoon showers have raised the expectation level. The big catch the fishermen of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry could get post-ban has also pepped up the spirit of local fishermen.
“On the whole the expectancy level is very high this time. The rain triggered by the cyclonic storm is expected to fetch them better catch than the previous year,” Joint Director of Fisheries Koteswara Rao told The Hindu Monday.
The annual ban observed for 61 days for the second time in the East Coast was not followed by Tamil Nadu and Puducherry. Fishermen there went into sea on May 30 cutting short the conservation period recommended by the Ministry of Agriculture for 61 days.
Hectic preparations
After completion of annual maintenance works like painting, wood and wire rope replacement, gear and propeller works and registrations with Fisheries Department and MPEDA, 70 per cent of 700 mechanised boats, 100 big and small trawlers and 250 to 300 beach landing crafts have started hectic preparations for starting of new season post-ban.
Though the ban will end on Tuesday midnight, due to Gangamma (Goddess of Sea) Yatra falling on Tuesday, Dolphin Mechanised Boat Operators’ Association and AP Mechanised Boat Operators’ Association have advised the boat owners to set out on sail from midnight of Wednesday.
“Those who are interested can go on voyage tomorrow midnight itself,” said Dolphin Mechanised Boat Operators’ Association president Ch. Satyanarayana Murthy. It is expected that there will be good harvest of pink, white shrimp and tiger prawn this time.
“The high operational cost following steep increase in diesel price notwithstanding, the fishermen this time are confident of a good season ahead,” Federation of Indian Fishery Industries president Y.G.K. Murti said.
