A weak monsoon, coupled with discharge of industrial effluents into the sea, have affected the fortunes of traditional fishermen, who would otherwise have earned handsomely during the two months of fishing holiday for mechanised boats.
“The yield this year is at least 75% lower than normal, while it was average last year,” said Krishna Kumar, office-bearer of Mangaluru Nada Doni Meenugarara Sangha (traditional fishermen’s association). While construction of vented dams across major rivers has prevented flow of nutrients required for the growth of aqua fauna, industrial effluents directly discharged into the sea curbs their growth, he said.
There are about 500 traditional boats, many equipped with outboard engines up to 10 HP capacity, which are allowed to venture into the sea during the 61-day fishing holiday for large vessels. Owners of three boats form a team. One boat with about 25 fishermen are dedicated to spread nets, and the other two carry the fish catch.
Of the about 90 such teams, only 10 of them earned around ₹4 lakh this monsoon, which is just enough for regular maintenance. The other teams earned a little over ₹1.5 lakh. Many of the fishermen take advances, which are cleared and savings made only if a team earns beyond ₹15 lakh, Mr. Kumar said.
Dwindling shrimps
Monsoon is also the time when fishermen net a bumper catch of shrimps, which sustain on river nutrients. During the past few years, nutrients, including forest waste such as wooden logs are not entering the sea. Reduced flow of fresh water even during the monsoon has added to the problem, Mr. Kumar said. Add to this, hot effluents released into the sea by mega industries, and you have a formula that affects the life of aqua fauna, including shrimps.
While fishermen a little south of Mangaluru, like Manjeshwara, netted a handsome shrimp catch, those in Mangaluru and Udupi were not so lucky, Mr. Kumar lamented. Traditional boats cannot traverse long distances either, he added.
Makeshift market
Fisherwomen of Mangaluru regularly sell the monsoon catch at a makeshift market close to Panambur beach. However, there was objection to this practice by the Indian Coast Guard recently as its Karnataka office is next to Panambur beach.
Panambur Beach Project CEO Yatish Baikampady said the land belonged to the New Mangalore Port Trust. Fishermen and women had to fight for their rights when the Coast Guard raised objections, he said. Hundreds of fish lovers throng the market when there’s news of a fresh catch, which is now a rarity.
Troubled waters
As gusty monsoon winds severely affect fishing activities for traditional boats, fishermen require safe berthing facility to start and wind up fishing.
Though the New Mangalore Port Trust (NMPT) offers berthing to about 210 boats in monsoon, it is only because of their constant struggle, says Yatish Baikampady, CEO of Panambur Beach Development Project. NMPT should have realised that fishermen are the first line of defence, he said, and added fishermen in ports like Kochi have no hindrances.
Mangaluru Nada Doni Meenugarara Sangha office-bearer Krishna Kumar said the late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi’s promise to allow fishermen inside the port remains only a promise. “We have to fight for space every year with the port authorities, though fishermen are ready to follow every security parameter,” he said.
NMPT Chairman P.C. Parida said the Kulai Fishing Harbour project, meant exclusively for fishermen in the region, is in the final stages of conception. Once the harbour is ready, local fishermen will not have any problem, he said.
