After enjoying two years of prosperity, the fisheries sector in Vadakara is now facing a severe shortage, hitting not just fishermen but the entire allied sector. Sardine availability has sharply declined, affecting everyone from porters to door-to-door fish suppliers, autorickshaw drivers to lorry operators, and ice plants to fish meal plants. The bustling coast has now become stagnant.
In 2023, the state experienced a relatively good sardine catch of 1.38 lakh tonnes. However, this year it saw a significant decline. Last year’s estimates showed that 43 percent of the total sardines were caught in the first six months. As of June this year, not even half of that amount has been achieved. Fishermen had hoped for an increase in availability as the sea cooled during the monsoon, but even after its onset, there has been no improvement. Marine fisheries researchers warn that if the monsoon weakens, changes in marine habitat will further affect fish availability.
“The boat was sent to sea about 20 times in six months… Only two or three times we could catch fish. Other days turned out to be a big debt for me,” expressed V. Prahladan, a fisherman from Kuriyadi who fishes at Chombala Harbour.
Around 600 boats operate in and around Chombala Harbour. With the current lack of fish, only a few boats are being sent into the sea. On those days when the sardine availability is high, the entire coast bustles, providing work for everyone. But during those days of less catch it is stagnant. Sardine-based industrial units, including many fishmeal and fish oil manufacturing units in Mangalore, are also suffering.
The shortage has hit lorry drivers and porters hard, and the operation of ice plants, which depend on the availability of fish, has also been affected. Ice plant owners have sent workers from different states back home due to the lack of work.