The first voyage to sea after the end of the annual 61-day ban on fishing failed to bring cheer among fisherfolk in Visakhapatnam. Operators of mechanised boats said the first voyage was not a profitable one due to the low catch and low demand for some varieties. After the ban on deep sea fishing ended last month, fishermen set sail on June 16 from Vizag Fishing Harbour. Some boats returned in the last two days with their catch but fish quantity and variety of prawns, disappointed fishermen said, has been far below expectations. “We went on the first voyage with lot of hopes. But, we could meet only expenses worth over Rs 60,000 from the voyage,” said PC Appa Rao, president of AP Mechanised Boat Operators’ Welfare Association. Some boats returned with brown prawn and a few other varieties. “As exporters are not interested in purchasing brown prawn due to low demand in other states and countries, we sold the catch in the domestic market at low prices,” said Appa Rao.
Normally, the first outing to sea after the end of the ban fetches returns worth over Rs 3 lakh. “This time, we managed catch around Rs 2 lakh only that can just meet fuel and other expenses,” fishermen added. The drop in prices of brown prawn is another cause of worry for the sector. Citing that demand for Indian-farmed Vannamei shrimp is high in other states and abroad, seafood exporters are offering a low price for brown prawn. “If we get at least Rs 420 a kilos for brown prawn, we will get some profits in the trade otherwise we will incur more losses,” said Ch Satyanarayana Murthy, president of Visakha Dolphin Boat Operators’ Association. Fishermen are banking on a good catch of silver pomfret and tuna in the coming days to get some profits from the trade.