Even though the annual fishing ban in Tamil Nadu came to an end on May 29, the price of sea food is unlikely to drop in a big way in the near future, thanks to the ban period coming into force in the neighbouring State of Kerala from June 1.
The 45-day ban came into force in Bay of Bengal on April 15, leading to considerable increase in the price of all varieties of sea fishes across Tamil Nadu. The ban was aimed at facilitating breeding of fishes and conservation of fish stock in marine ecology. The price of sea fish has registered a marginal fall in the Suramangalam fish market on Sunday, due to the lifting of ban on Friday. The vanjeeram fish was priced at Rs. 700 per kg, the vilai meen and mutta parai at Rs. 350 per kg each.
The trend of higher price is expected to continue for the next couple of months as the ban in Arabian Sea comes into effect immediately.
Sea food is a favourite food item among Keralites and as such traders from Kerala descend on coastal villages in Tamil Nadu to purchase the produce during the ban period in Arabian Sea.
Demand
The Kerala traders are prepared to offer any price for fish varieties due to heavy demand in their State.
Thus the prices are not expected to come down during the months of June and July. The markets in Tamil Nadu are expected to receive their regular quota only from the month of August, says S. Habibullah, running Abi Fish Stall in Suramangalam fish market.
The fishermen of coastal villages took advantage of the ban period for undertaking repair works of boats, nets and other equipment. The State Government provided a relief assistance of Rs. 2,000 per marine fishermen family to compensate the revenue loss suffered by them by abstaining from fishing.
