The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Fishing runs into rough weather

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Wednesday, Aug 13, 2008
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Fishing runs into rough weather

M. Raghuram

2,500 houses to be constructed under Matsyashraya scheme in three districts
Fish ranching to be introduced this year

BANGALORE: Owing to rough sea conditions, the fishing season has evoked only lukewarm response in the coastal districts of Udupi, Dakshina Kannada and Uttara Kannada this time around.

Meanwhile, the Government has decided to introduce fish ranching and organise seminars on fishing in each fishermen’s colony this year.

Minister for Fisheries Anand V. Asnotikar told The Hindu that the Government would take up construction of 2,500 houses under the Matsyashraya scheme in Udupi, Dakshina Kannada and Uttara Kannada districts and identify areas in land-locked districts in order to include inland fishermen in the scheme.

Expressing concern over the dwindling volume of fish catch in the State, he said that use of unscientific fishing methods was the reason behind the dismal growth in the sector.

Scientific methods

The Government was preparing audio-visual programmes and organising micro-level seminars in all fishermen colonies in the State. The exercise was aimed at educating fishermen on employing scientific methods, the Minister said.

Fish ranching was one of the measures that would be introduced in both the sea as well as in inland water resources, he said.

Mr. Asnotikar said that the volume of fish catch was coming down in the State as well as in other parts of the country. As a result, fishermen were forced to take up employment as agricultural labourers.

The Government was planning to give Rs. 300 to each fishermen family in addition to the Rs. 300 given by the Centre during the lean season.

Director of Fisheries H.S. Veerappa Gowda said that though the official fishing season had started in Udupi and Dakshina Kannada on August 3, those who had ventured into the sea would not come back before August 15.

In Uttara Kannada, the season began on August 1. Members of the fishermen’s association in the district said that they should be allowed to go fishing first as they would get a prawn variety called “Tamly” in local parlance. The fish catch targeted for the 2008-09 season is pegged at 1.85 million tonnes.

Fishing vessels

Deputy Director of Fisheries of Uttara Kannada district T. Venkateshappa said that the district had over 2,500 mechanised fishing vessels, but only 25-30 per cent of them had ventured into the sea.

Officials in Udupi and Dakshina Kannada said that similar sea conditions existed in those districts too. Except in Karwar, there had not been any fishing operations in any other port, Mr. Venkateshappa said.

According to fishermen’s association leader Loknath Bolar, the delay in launch of fishing expeditions was a cause for concern. Each passing day would bring in financial losses to fishermen as they had to keep the inputs ready, he added.

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