As many as 70% boats used for fishing have been confined to jetties across AP three months ahead of the fishing ban as the business has failed to be lucrative of late due to poor catch and rise in expenses.
The conservation period of marine species, famously known as fishing ban, would come into force from April 14 midnight for 61 days and continue till midnight of June 15. Only the traditional boats are allowed for fishing and not motorized or mechanized boats.
The AP Mechanized Boat Operators Association president Vasupalli Janakiram told TOI that the catch and the price was good till January due to the slowdown in aquaculture as the decline in export potential and other aspects showed an impact on aquaculture and seafood prices were stable though the catch in the sea was less. Post Covid-19, consumption of seafood has increased. However, mechanized boat operators have been facing many problems due to the increase in diesel prices.
“The chief minister should focus on the mechanized boat sector and enhance the facilities by increasing the oil subsidy to Rs. 18 per liter. CM had increased the oil subsidy to Rs. 9 as promised in the padayatra. The price was good for 2019 as the diesel price was Rs. 75 in the open market, but now the price is Rs. 100, so the fishing boats need double the subsidy,” the mechanized boat operators’ president said.
He added that the CM should focus on the mechanized boat sector as one voyage of a mechanized boat would provide the livelihood of 10 to 15 families directly and 25 to 30 families indirectly. “The CM should focus on this aspect before focusing on new fishing harbours,” he said.