Seer Fish sold at Rs.1,600, White Pomfret at Rs. 1,400 a kg

Mysore: With the ban on deep sea mechanised fishing coming into effect owing to fish breeding season, prices of fish have shot up in city, forcing consumers to shell out more money or cut down on the quantity of purchase.

Since mechanised boats will remain on the shore and only smaller country craft are allowed to fish, the quantum of fish that is caught has come down and fish lovers are forced to pay through their nose to eat marine fish.

Every year from June 1 there is a ban on deep sea fishing with mechanised boats in Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu. Fish usually start laying eggs in the sea in June and the ban on mechanised fishing is imposed so that they can breed.

The days of fishing ban, however, varies from State to State. While there is a 30-day deep sea fishing ban in Karnataka coast, at some places in Kerala and Tamil Nadu there is a 45 to 61-day ban. Some parts in Karnataka too enforce the 61-day ban. Fishermen would use the ban period to carry out major overhauling of their vessels and prepare nets for the next season.

Traditional boats without any propulsion are, however, exempted from the ban. A mechanised boat often goes up to 100 nautical miles into the sea and each boat holds up to 40 tonnes of fish.

Sea fish is said to be among the most nutritious food among all fishes as they don’t consume chemical-laced food. As such there is a demand for them everywhere. Fish varieties from Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh are in great demand even in foreign countries.

Cost of each variety: There is a lot of demand for fish like Bhoothaai (sardine), Anjal (seer fish), Bangude (mackerel), White Pomfret, Black Pomfret, butter fish, crabs, shrimp, prawns and other varieties. Usually fish lay eggs during rainy season and as the tides and waves are high in the seas during this season, the local administrations ban fishermen from entering the sea even in small boats.

Whatever fish comes to Mysuru during this ban season are from the places that are considered safe for fishing. Hence the production is low, increasing the prices.

The common Bhoothaai variety which was sold at Rs. 160 a kg is now sold at more than Rs. 200 to Rs. 250 per kg. In the fish outlets in residential areas, the prices have touched Rs. 300 per kg. Anjal which was sold at Rs.900 to Rs. 1,000 a kg has gone up to Rs. 1,600 a kg and the popular Bangude variety that was sold at Rs.180 is now sold at Rs. 280 a kg. White Pomfret which was being sold between Rs. 700 – Rs. 900 per kg is now being sold at Rs.1,400 a kg and prawns that were sold at Rs. 450 to Rs. 600 per kg has gone up to Rs. 600 and Rs. 800.

Five or six shops adjoining the Devaraja Market’s Boti Bazaar sell sea fish. Fish from Kerala and Mangaluru fulfil a little of the demand. Contractors manage to supply 50 kg to 100 kg to each shop. Even though the prices are high there is a lot of demand and customers compete with each other to buy marine fish. Nearly 1,000 kg of all varieties of fish are sold every day at Devaraja Market.

Since the sea fish do not consume any chemicals they are considered to be nutritious. This is the reason for its great demand. As it is the breeding season, fishermen are not allowed to fish using mechanised boats and hence the quantity has come down and the cost has gone up. Prices will come down after the ban is lifted, said Shamshuddin of Fish Palace Centre, Devaraja Market, Mysuru.

By M.T. Yogesh Kumar