Ban sparks spike in fish prices, country boat fishermen happy

The seasonal fishing ban period is the phase during which breeding of fish takes place and to safeguard the marine resources, mechanised boats fitted with large engines are banned from entering the sea. Only country boats are allowed to fish and many small-scale fishermen who fish with the help of fishing hooks thrive during the season as they are the only source of fish. A fishermen leader, Sahayam of Rameswaram, said that when mechanised boats go for fishing, they catch fish in tonnes and many varieties would also be caught. 

A fishermen leader, Sahayam of Rameswaram, said that when mechanised boats go for fishing, they catch fish in tonnes and many varieties would also be caught. 

It was not the case with country boats as only a few kilograms of fish can be caught and carried in the boats and because of it, the prices would usually go up in the summer, said Sahayam. 

The country boat fishermen relish the ban season as it helps them earn more. Chinnathambi, a country boat fisherman of Rameswaram, said though they usually catch fish in fewer quantities, they increase their frequency of venturing into the sea during the ban to get more fish. 

Chinnathambi acknowledged that fish varieties were overpriced during the ban season but said that it was is the time to cash-in as they otherwise earn very meagre money during the rest of the year. The demand from traders also determines prices, said Chinnathambi.