Thiruvananthapuram:
Kerala, fish curry and the monsoon are inseparable companions. But this monsoon, rather the lack of it has left the fishermen fearing whether they will find scanty fishing nets post a poor monsoon.
Fishermen in Thiruvananthapuram fear that sea food will become an expensive commodity this year in Kerala - a state which ironically recorded the highest fish production ever in the country last year, that of nearly 7 lakh tonnes.
The government has imposed a 47-day ban on fishing because of the monsoon, at least officially as announced by the Meteorogical Department.
"Breeding increases during the monsoon so we are strictly implementing the ban this year. Once the monsoon ends, we will get to know the actual produce," said S Sharma, Fisheries minister.
The state has recorded 37 per cent less rain after one month of monsoon already - much less than the average.
"Our fear is a poor monsoon would mean no livelihood for us for the next 6 months, despite the ban already implemented," said Peter Paul, President, Kerala Fishermen Association.
A ban on fishing activities and good rains means time for the sea to safeguard and multiply its wealth. The fish in Kerala's waters must be hoping that the monsoon has not departed just yet after its so called early arrival.
Fishermen in Thiruvananthapuram fear that sea food will become an expensive commodity this year in Kerala - a state which ironically recorded the highest fish production ever in the country last year, that of nearly 7 lakh tonnes.
The government has imposed a 47-day ban on fishing because of the monsoon, at least officially as announced by the Meteorogical Department.
"Breeding increases during the monsoon so we are strictly implementing the ban this year. Once the monsoon ends, we will get to know the actual produce," said S Sharma, Fisheries minister.
The state has recorded 37 per cent less rain after one month of monsoon already - much less than the average.
"Our fear is a poor monsoon would mean no livelihood for us for the next 6 months, despite the ban already implemented," said Peter Paul, President, Kerala Fishermen Association.
A ban on fishing activities and good rains means time for the sea to safeguard and multiply its wealth. The fish in Kerala's waters must be hoping that the monsoon has not departed just yet after its so called early arrival.
