Pics: Spoorthi Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (DV)

Mangaluru, May 9: Several deep-sea fishing trawl vessels lie berthed at Mangaluru fishing harbour, after fishing activities partially came to a halt, due to surging cases of Covid-19 in the state.

After the state government imposed strict guidelines to contain the spread of Covid-19, many labourers involved in fishing activities outside the state have returned to their villages.

It is also said that authorities concerned have advised fishermen to avoid gathering hundreds of people at Dhakkes (fish landing points) at ports during the fishing activities to avoid the spread of coronavirus.

Chairman of Karnataka Fisheries Development Corporation (KFDC) Nitin Kumar speaking to daijiworld said, "As many as 100 deep-sea trawl boats have ventured into the water for fishing activities out of around 1,000 trawl boats. As of now, only 45 small and traditional boats are involved in fishing activities. The rest of the boats have stopped the fishing activities."

A few trawl boats discontinued fishing long back due to low number of catches. Now, after the spike in the Covid cases, most of the fishing activity has come to halt and several labourers from other states returned to their native place.

Mohan Bengre, former president of Karnataka Parishath Meenugarara Sangha said, "Fishing activities have come to halt. Fishermen of Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh who were involved in fishing activities have returned to their native, as lockdown is being imposed in the state. This is the second blow to fishing activity. It is a huge loss for this sector. The government should give attention to the problem of fishermen and help them. As we have not received a diesel subsidy for the past five months, we are facing a loss. If the government provided us subsidy, it would be better. There is no saying as to when the government will lift the lockdown."