Chennai: Arrival, sale of fish down at Kasimedu – Times of India

CHENNAI: Arrival of fish at the Kasimedu harbour and Chintadripet market has come down in the past fortnight.
Fishermen attribute two reasons for this. One is the increase in the price of diesel that has forced many owners to keep their vessels moored to the piers at the harbour, reluctant to put out to sea. Second is the fact that in the auspicious Tamil month of Purattasi, which lasts from the middle of September to the middle of October, many non-vegetarian eaters turn vegetarians and do not consume seafood. This has led to fewer footfalls at the two main fish markets, they said.
Fisheries department officials said of the more than 400 mechanised boats attached to the Kasimedu harbour, only 50 have put out to sea. Similarly, only about 150 trawlers have ventured out for fishing. Besides, 25 tuna long-liners have also set out to the sea from Kasimedu, said an official.
Currently, most of the boats that have gone out to sea are bringing in only small fish, which are not fetching huge amounts and leading to losses. Every day, on an average, about 400 tonnes of fish land at the Kasimedu harbour, said Balraman, a vendor. Vanjiram, paarai, Karuppu vaaval, nethili, Kezhanga and Vaalai are among the varieties arriving daily along with squid and prawns. It is on Sundays that retailers come in good numbers to the market. “When Purattasi is over, the fish sale will pick up at the market,” he said.
A similar situation prevails at the Chintadripet market where, on an average, about 20 tonnes of fish used to arrive every day. Fish from Kerala and Karnataka also came to this market. But now, during Purattasi, the market receives only 10 tonnes of fish a day. “The business is very dull now,” said one of the traders doing business there.
Besides, many boat owners in Kasimedu may not see it worthwhile to send their crew into the sea unless the diesel prices are brought down, said one owner. Only those who are in the export trade can afford to go fishing, he added.