Fishers in many villages have resorted to pledging their nets to tide over the present crisis due to the ongoing COVID-19 lockdown. With fishing not being allowed for bigger boats and no arrangements made for retail sale if traditional craft go for fishing, they have run out of cash even to meet daily needs of their families. Last resort K. Bharathi of the South Indian Fishermen Welfare Association said that fishers, who usually fish in groups of 40 or 50 and use long nets, were resorting to this. They promise the wholesaler all the fish in their next catch and take advance. Almost all the big valai (net) groups are doing this. They get about Rs. 2 lakh to Rs. 3 lakh and divide it amongst themselves to buy provisions, he said. Durai Mahendran of Pulicat said that this was the practice whenever they needed large sums for building a boat or buying a net or even to organise a family function. That is not done often and is the last resort. This is perhaps the first time they are doing so to buy rice and provisions. This is because they are unable to sell fish that they catch, he said. Most villages are going for fishing only to bring back fish for their own homes. This is because arrangements had not been made for retail or wholesale sales as promised by the Fisheries Department, said fishermen.