After end of 47-day conservation period known as the annual ban, fishermen in Visakhapatnam and its neighbourhood are raring to go.
With some good pre-monsoon showers the fishermen are pinning high hopes on post-ban catch. “We expect lot of shrimp, vanjeeram, pomfret and other high-value fish,” said Ch. Satyanarayana Murthy, a boat owner.
As the ban will end at Friday midnight, feverish activity was witnessed at the fishing harbour here during the day. There was lot of demand for ice. The harbour, which sported a deserted look during past few days, suddenly became beehive of activity.
A large number of fisherfolk offered prayers near the jetty to Gangamma talli with pots filled with turmeric and vermillion. It is hoped that 50 per cent of mechanised boats will go for fishing during the first week after resumption of fishing. The boat owners invested around Rs.2 lakh to Rs.3 lakh on overhauling and changing gears and other parts of their vessels during the ban period. After the success in observing a 60 day ban imposed in 2010, Association of Indian Fishery Industry, AP Mechanised Boat Owners’ Welfare Association and Dolphin Boat Operators’ Welfare Association have represented to the Government of India to increase the ban period from 47 days to 60 days to ensure a bumper catch in future.
