Fish from Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh floods Karnataka markets

Fish from Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh floods Karnataka markets

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, July 24, 2025: Despite the ongoing annual fishing ban along the Karnataka coast, large quantities of fish are being transported daily from Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh to Mangaluru and other coastal areas. The local fishing season is set to resume from August 1, but fish supply from other states is expected to continue.

Even during the fishing ban period in June and July in Karnataka, the inflow of fish from Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh has remained steady. Commission agents in Mangaluru, Malpe, Kundapur, Gangolli, Bhatkal, Kumta, and Karwar are actively trading with out-of-state suppliers, facilitating the daily arrival of 40 to 50 truckloads of fish — roughly 5,000 boxes per day.

 

 

 

 

 

The price of fish has been fluctuating, with fresh fish in high demand, especially from the hotel industry. Apart from Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh, fish is also arriving from Kerala’s small-scale boats, as well as from distant states like Gujarat and Odisha. Although intense fishing took place in Chennai between July 15 and 20, this year’s cyclone has affected overall catch volumes.

 

 

 

In Mangaluru alone, 26 commission agents manage the influx of 40–50 trucks daily, each carrying between 50 and 200 boxes of fish. Fresh fish is packed in ice to preserve quality — deliveries from Kerala arrive by morning if dispatched at night, while fish from Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh takes one day, and from Odisha and Gujarat about 1–2 days.

All fish trucks must enter the Mangaluru fishing harbor gate by 5:30 a.m. Trucks arriving after this deadline are not allowed entry. Trading typically concludes by 9 a.m. Buyers include traders from Moodbidri, Bantwal, Puttur, Sullia, Belthangady, and neighboring towns like Manjeshwar, Uppala, and Kumbla.

Recently, the supply of fresh boothai (a small fish) has surged. Prices have seen a sharp rise: ₹4,000 per 25-kg box on July 15, ₹5,000 on July 16, ₹6,000 on July 17, and up to ₹7,000 by Friday. Lower supply increases demand, especially from hotels, which are driving the price hikes.