Fishermen’s ire over ice shortage

Visakhapatnam: After a 60-day ban on fishing, mechanised fishing boats started venturing into the sea on Wednesday. Though the ban orders (annual conservation period) was lifted from June 14 in the East Coast, none of the boat operators ventured into the sea in a protest demanding hike in diesel subsidy up to Rs 12.93 per litre. The boat workers and drivers staged a protest demanding an increase in payment.

However, after clearing of the off-shore hurdles, the vessels ventured into the sea on Wednesday. Meanwhile, due to shortage of ice and several other issues, 40 per cent of the total 700 mechanised boats from Visakhapatnam Fishing Harbour ventured into the sea. The other boats also making arrangements with ice and diesel for a two-weak voyage.

“The expenditure on each boat for a voyage is Rs.3.5 lakh to Rs.5 lakh for the first voyage of the new fishing season and hopeful of good returns (particularly prawn) as the good rains in hot summer witnessed”, said president of Dolphin Mechanised Boat Operators’ Association Ch Satyanarayana Murthy.

The cost of ice has gone up from Rs 1,300 to Rs 1,400 per tonne. The city has around 15 ice factories and each mechanised boat needs 15 to 20 tonnes of ice for a voyage of 10 to 15 days. 

Though the good amount of pre-monsoon showers raised the expectation of bountiful catch post-ban, shortage of ice hit the plans as 50 per cent of the boats will be going for the first voyage on Wednesday and Thursday, said G Simhachalam, one of the senior boat operators.