Back to the Sea: Mangaluru Fishermen Gear Up for Post-Monsoon Return

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, Aug 3, 2025: With the monsoon winds easing and the skies clearing, Mangaluru’s bustling fishing harbour is springing back to life. After nearly two months of seasonal rest, the coastal city’s fishing community is now in full swing, preparing to resume their deep-sea expeditions.

The post-monsoon period marks a crucial phase in the local marine economy. As the ban on mechanised fishing comes to an end, trawl boats and purse seine vessels are being readied for launch. Boat owners, crews, and dockside workers are racing against time to ensure everything is in place—from ice loading and fuel stocking to net mending and food supplies.

“The harbour is abuzz once again. It feels like the start of a festival,” says a local boat operator, overseeing a team loading blocks of ice into the boat’s storage chamber. Each boat will need at least 450 ice boxes to preserve the fish caught during the trip, which can last anywhere from six to ten days.

The logistical effort is massive. Each trawl boat, carrying 10–15 fishermen, consumes about 4,000 litres of diesel per trip. Purse seine boats, with crews exceeding 30 men, demand even more resources. Onboard, mini kitchens are stocked with rice, lentils, dried vegetables, tea, and gas cylinders. Water tanks holding up to 8,000 litres are filled to meet basic needs during the voyage.

Safety equipment such as life jackets, fish finders, and medical kits are also being cross-checked. “The sea is our livelihood, but we never forget that it’s also unpredictable,” says a crew leader preparing for his 20th season.

Beyond the gear and goods, the human movement is equally dynamic. As the season resumes, hundreds of migrant workers—hailing from Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Jharkhand, and Maharashtra—are returning to Mangaluru. They had travelled home for the monsoon holidays and are now rejoining their respective crews, bringing with them not just labour but also a sense of community and continuity.

While full-scale fishing may take another week or ten days to ramp up, the pulse of the harbour suggests one thing clearly: Mangaluru is ready to ride the waves once more.