Monsoon is well and truly here, but the state is yet to see a steady supply of the sought-after Pulasa. August, the month when fisherfolk depend on a good catch, has seen abnormally low numbers of the fish compared to last year. Experts point out that lack of conservation, overfishing and polluting are behind the steep fall in numbers. “We have hardly earned Rs 10,000 till date because there was no catch. We only got small ones weighing half-a-kilogram. Usually, we would get Rs 1 lakh by the end of August,” said V Pothuraju, a fisherman in Yanam. In fact, two kilograms of Pulasa sold for a whopping Rs 17,000 near Yanam a few days ago. In a normal year, the fish would sell for Rs 2,000 per kg. Fisheries department official said the catch two decades ago would be around 40 tonnes. Now, it has dwindled to two to four tonnes. “The statistics are not perfect as we never calculated the catch. Because it is a migratory fish, it will come for breeding in the Godavari basin in the monsoon season. When it comes from saltwater to freshwater, many changes would take place in the fish and its taste would also change,” additional director of fisheries, East Godavari, P Koteswara Rao told TOI. Fishermen also opt for a catch of Pulasa over other varieties due to the profit the fish brings. Howeverm in the absence of breeding, fisherfolk catch the fish irrespective of size, resulting in gradual depreciation of numbers. “Pulasa is tastier due to fatty acids in the fish and the fat content would be between 20-30%. There is no breeding of Pulasa in the state. Research and development should be taken up by the government. A study should be conducted, conservation and management aspects should also be taken care of,” zoology researcher P Srinivasa Rao said.
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