MAPUSA
Although the State's fishing season officially resumed on August 1, fish lovers hoping for an immediate glut of fresh local catch will have to wait a little longer, as rough sea conditions and a shortage of labour continue to keep most mechanised trawlers off the water.
As a result, fish from neighbouring Karnataka, particularly Karwar and other adjoining coastal regions continues to dominate markets across the State, including the bustling Mapusa fish market, with traders saying the expected bumper supply of local fish is still at least a couple of weeks away.
President of the All Goa Fishing Boat Owners Association (AGFBOA), Jose Philip D'Souza, said only around 10 to 15 per cent of Goa's mechanised fishing boats have ventured into the sea since the season reopened.
"The sea is still extremely rough and the currents are very strong due to prevailing weather conditions. It is almost like cyclonic conditions in some areas. We cannot risk the lives of our workers and therefore many boat owners are hesitant to send their vessels into deep waters," D'Souza said.
Apart from the rough seas, the industry is also grappling with a shortage of manpower, with many migrant crew members yet to return from their native States following the seasonal fishing break.
"The labour force is slowly returning. Until then, full-scale fishing operations cannot begin. We expect sea conditions to improve after August 20, and once that happens more boats will head out for fishing," he added.
Echoing similar concerns, Mapusa Fish Vendors Association President Shashikala Govekar said local fish landings have remained poor despite the lifting of the fishing ban.
"There is no good catch from local fishermen yet because the sea is still in a churn. Not many trawlers have gone out. We are still depending largely on fish coming from neighbouring States," Govekar said.
She said vendors expect the availability of local fish to improve only after weather conditions stabilise and mechanised trawlers begin operating regularly.
The delayed arrival of a bumper catch is a familiar trend every year. While the fishing season officially opens on August 1, the first fortnight is generally marked by limited landings as rough monsoon conditions persist over the Arabian Sea.
Strong winds, high waves and powerful currents often force large mechanised vessels to remain anchored even after the ban is lifted.
Industry representatives said it normally takes two to three weeks for the fishing fleet to become fully operational.
By the latter half of August, as weather conditions improve and more trawlers return to sea, popular local varieties such as mackerel (bangda), sardines (tarle), prawns and other marine fish begin arriving in significantly larger quantities.
The peak fishing period generally begins from late August, when wholesale and retail markets across the State witness steady, high-volume landings of premium varieties including kingfish and pomfret.
