Mangaluru: Gas shortage, other states’ elections trigger labour crunch in fishing, industry

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, Apr 1, 2026: Amid an ongoing cooking gas shortage and upcoming Assembly elections in states like West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Assam, fishing activities along the coast have been reduced by nearly half.

A large number of migrant workers from these states are employed in various segments of the fishing sector. Apart from venturing into the sea, they are engaged in allied activities such as net weaving, boat building, repair units, ice plants, and fish loading and unloading. While workers from Tamil Nadu and Kerala dominate deep-sea fishing on boats, those from West Bengal, Assam, Jharkhand and Odisha are largely involved in other operations.

The shortage of commercial LPG has emerged as a major concern for these workers. Fishermen, especially those heading into deep-sea fishing on purse seine and trawl boats, depend on LPG cylinders for cooking during their trips. However, the recent disruption in cylinder supply has made it difficult, and many workers are unwilling to go to sea.

Another key factor is the Assembly elections in several states. Many migrant workers have already returned to their hometowns nearly a month in advance to cast their votes. As a result, nearly 50 per cent of fishing boats remain docked, said fishing leader Mohan Bengre.

The district currently has around 1,400 trawl boats and 160 purse seine boats, but only half of them are operational.

Migrant workers also form a significant part of the workforce in various industrial units and the hotel sector in the city. Some have returned home due to the gas shortage, while others have left to participate in voting. This has posed challenges to industrial production and the smooth functioning of hotels, sources said.

Additionally, several workers who had gone back to their hometowns to celebrate festivals like Holi and Ramzan are yet to return. Many are expected to come back only after casting their votes.