Teeming with activity after a 52-day hiatus, the twin harbours of Neendakara-Shaktikulangara look all upbeat and festive.
But the men venturing into sea after their annual fishing holiday are a weary lot, apprehensive over what the sea has in store following a frail monsoon, the steady depletion in fish stock during the last few months adding to their anxiety.
“We are not sure if there will be any monsoon bounty this time, as the rains were not dense enough. Even before the ban, we were having a hard time and the traditional fishers were also complaining about the dwindling catch during the ban,” says Paul, fisherman.
Around 4,000 motorised boats across the State have been busy finishing their repair and maintenance work during the last couple of week, each investing over ₹3 lakh for the new season. Stocked with the provisions and fuel to last a couple of days to one week, the crew members of the boats say they are hopeful but not very confident.
“Some years ago, we used to return with a rich harvest after the trawl ban, but this time there aren’t many positive factors. The dip in marine wealth is a fact we cannot deny, but the sea has a habit of surprising us and we are keeping our fingers crossed. Trawl ban is a time of penury for us and if it continues even after the period it will be impossible for us to survive,” says Somarajan, a fisherman.
Another blow to the community is the government’s decision to hike the amount for the registration of fishing boats. “There was a 5% hike last year, but this time they have imposed a 30-fold rise in fee. If a boat with a length of 16.5 meter had to pay ₹1,732 last year, this year the amount to renew the license is ₹52,500. Kerala is the only State where the government charges such exorbitant amounts,” says says Peter Mathias, president, All Kerala Fishing Boat Operators Association.
After the ban, small trawlers usually get huge volumes of Karikkadi shrimp and pink parch while the bigger crafts go to the deep sea in search of other varieties including squid, octopus, lizard fish and cuttlefish. “Every year, we lose 80% of the export quality Karikkadi shrimps due to the unscientific timing of our trawl ban. Monsoon is the breeding season for pelagic fish species like mackerel and sardine, and we allow around 24,000 traditional boats to fish during the period. Karikkadi season starts around late June or early July and the migratory shrimp reaches the territorial waters of other States by the time our trawl ban ends. Ideally trawl ban should be moved to November-January window,” he adds.
