Fishing season begins on Karnataka coast; trawl boats set sail, purse-seine boats to follow after August 9

Fishing season begins on Karnataka coast; trawl boats set sail, purse-seine boats to follow after August 9

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, Aug 1, 2025: The fishing season along the Karnataka coast begins today, August 1, marking the end of the two-month ban. Trawl boats are ready to venture into the sea, closely monitoring weather conditions. Purse-seine boats, however, will begin fishing only after the sea-worship rituals on August 9. Fishermen are hopeful for a better catch this season.

After one and a half months of heavy rain and wind, the last two days of sunshine have created favorable conditions for fishing. Due to intense heat since February, fish stocks had drastically declined, leaving fishermen distressed. As per government regulations, mechanized fishing resumes on August 1, with trawl boats preparing to sail based on weather department reports.

The fisheries department has also begun supplying tax-free diesel from today. Preparations such as ice stocking, net repairs, and boat maintenance are in full swing at the harbors. Workers who had returned to their native states during the break are now coming back, and both trawl and purse-seine boats are being readied.

During the fishing ban, traditional country boats were active, but adverse weather also affected their operations. Fresh fish shortage in markets pushed prices higher, troubling fish lovers. To meet demand, packed and iced fish, along with fresh fish from Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, and Odisha, has been reaching markets, with prices fluctuating.

Fishing output for 2024-25 saw a significant drop. According to the fisheries department, April 2025 recorded 7,100 metric tons of catch, while May 2025 had 6,210 metric tons. The annual figures show a fall from 2.39 lakh tons in 2023-24 to 1.72 lakh tons in 2024-25.

Under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Samruddhi Yojana, modernization of the Mangaluru harbor is ongoing with an investment of ₹37.50 crore. The old auction yard has been demolished, and road repair works are in progress, which may cause some inconvenience as the fishing season gets underway.