No storm in sea, so no fish in the market!

By Snehalatha, Udupi
Bellevision Media Network

Malpe, 09 July 2012: It is already a month since the monsoon started, but there is no storm in the Arabian Sea so far and hence the fishing by country boats has not started! The poor fishermen who depend on the country boat fishing have now turned to deities for help. Usually we know people pray for no storm to come, but these country boat fishermen are praying asking for the storm to come.

 
There is ban for the deep sea fishing by motorized boats for 57 days during the monsoon. During this time the small country boat fishermen carry out the fishing in the sea. This time the motorized boat fishing has stopped by 15th June and then the country boat fishing has started. But even after 20 days they are unable to catch considerable amount of fish. So there is no fresh fish in the market, because there is no storm in the sea.

 

 

Usually by end of June there will be heavy storm in the sea and with the impact of the wind of this storm there will be heavy rain in the Ghat areas and the rain water flows into the sea through the rivers. Because of this storm plenty of fish move into the sea shore, so the country boats which can fish at the shore will have huge catch. Another reason for the fish from the deep sea to move to the shore is that, it gets attracted to the dirty rain water flowing in which is called as ‘Falke’ and these fish that come to shore also gets caught into the nets of the country boat fishermen.

 
So, for the good catch of fish in the country boat fishing a strong storm and heavy rains in Ghat areas is necessary. But this time June is passed and it is already July now, but there is no storm which has made us worried, said a fisherman to udupitoday reporter. Out of the 57 days ban on the motorized boats 20 days are already gone wasted and remaining is only just more than a month, which has caused fear among them.

 
Already they have offered prayers and got into the sea for fishing, but they have come back empty handed. Therefore, on Thursday led by the country boat fishing association President Janardhana Thingalaya, they have offered prayers to Bobbarya Deity in Kalmadi near Malpe asking for storm in the sea. Now we have to wait and see what will happen!