Fish scarcity looms large over State
A sh scarcity o the Kerala coast that reared its head in the early part of 2024 has now deteriorated into a situation in which dozens of retail shops around Kochi have been forced to down shutters because there is not enough sh in the market. Rising sea temperature and unhealthy shing practices have contributed to the severe scarcity of sh in the waters o the State, feel traditional shermen, who said the dry months are traditionally known for a fall in sh catch.
However, the shortage is yet to turn acute and sh stalls are forced to stop functioning, said Antony Kurishinkal, a traditional sherman and a leader of the traditional shermen community in Alappuzha district.
He claimed that more than 80% of the shing boats are grounded. They have not ventured out for about 70 days now. Even when they venture out they come back with little or no catch.
“We have not opened sh stalls for the last two days. Activities in the coming days will be determined by sh availability,” says C.S. Sajith, who works at a popular sh retail store on Vypeen island. He said that while small sh, which are in demand, are available in much reduced quantities, larger varieties of sh are not available at all.
The price of all-time favourites like Indian oil sardines has gone up to ₹240 a kg when available, while Indian mackerels cost ₹240 to ₹260 a kg, depending on availability. Mr. Sajith said that seer sh and pomfrets have not hit the market since Easter. The price of sea and fresh water shrimp varies according to size – ranging between ₹360 and ₹600 a kg. Anchovies, which are also in great demand, are also scarce in the market. Anchovies cost around ₹280 a kg.
Seasonal variations
Seasonal variations in sh catch is going to be a crucial issue for the thousands of shermen who depend on the sector for a livelihood and for people who see cheap sh as a source to meet nutritional needs.
Local shermen and sh vendors have said that supplies from neighbouring States have been meeting the shortage in the State. According to Charles George, leader of an independent trade union of shermen in the traditional sector, of the nearly nine lakh tonnes of sh required in the State, 5.5 to 6x lakh tonnes come from outside Kerala.
He called on the government to intervene to ensure that local shermen received remunerative prices for their work and to free the sector of middlemen, who have taken a stranglehold, he said.