Mangalore: Fish price goes up due to improper diesel subsidy

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, April 13, 2015: Nearly all trawl boats have have remained at the old Bundar fish wharf and not put out to sea it is seen, the reason being faulty subsidy of Diesel. .  Fish prices are sky high for some time and availability poor too.  The fishermen are agitating against direct bank transfer (DBT) scheme for diesel; in the meanwhile the fish loving people of Mangalore suffer in silence. 

Mackerels/Bangude normally at Rs 150- 160 per kg is now Rs 200. Seer fish which was Rs 500 is now Rs 700 per kg. The cost of white pomfret is also high at around Rs 1350,  stock in the market are low. 

CM  Siddaramaiah assured that the budget notification regarding the DBT scheme would be modified and subsidized diesel will be given till mid-June, the order is not yet seen. Mohan Bengre, joint secretary, Trawl Boat Owners Association, said that perhaps  2% of the 13oo or so  trawl boats are operating, the trips are shortened too .  Most trawl boats and Purse Sieners, are idle at the Old Port.

Ibrahim Bengre, treasurer of Trawl Boat Owners Association, and Manohar Boloor, vice-president, Pusre Siener Boat Owners Association, are said to have gone to Bengaluru to take up the matter with the departments concerned and lobby the politicians.

The chaos caused by boats now getting damaged as they are tightly moored in a small space at the Old Port. When fishing begins there will be a strain on the supply of diesel and ice as arrangements are poor.    One cannot be assured that there will be enough catch since all boats would chase after the same fish and other problems too will occur .  Now fish comes from Kerala and Goa. Unless proper steps are in place the fish eaters will have to change their traditional food habits.