Unmindful of the harsh summer sun beating down on their backs, every man here works towards a common goal — to take the boat out to sea after midnight on Thursday when the fishing ban on the east coast is lifted.
Of the around 1,100 mechanised boats in the fishing harbour that bring back 130 tonnes of fish a day, around 600 stay for 10-15 days in the sea. The 45-day ban began on April 15
As fisherfolk repair nets, check instruments on boats and stock up on diesel and ice, the drivers have been comparing notes as to where they sighted fish shoals last year. “It is the driver who sets the course and leads the boat to a good catch. With their experience, they draw roads on the vast seas. They know where the calm waters are and where the fish hide,” said M. Babu, a fisherman.
P. Sesha, a boat owner, said that most of the work has been completed and the boats would soon be ready. “Owners with large boats that stay in the sea for 10 –15 days would have spent around Rs. 5 lakh for maintenance alone. This includes repairs to the boat’s body, engine servicing and repairs to ice boxes. Voyage expenses would be another Rs. 3 lakh of which ice costs Rs. 25,000 and provisions another Rs. 15,000. Provisions are stocked up just a day before the boats are taken out,” he explained.
This is also the time when 60 per cent of the annual fish net sales are done. S. Raghunath of Kingfish Fishing Net Shop in Kasimedu, said that fishing net prices have gone up by Rs. 30 a kilo. “Boats that carry trawl nets have at least 100 kg of nets and those with gill nets carry upto 5 tonnes of nets,” he said.
