“Fishing crisis hits Dakshina Kannada as boats remain anchored due to poor catch”
Dakshina Kannada is facing one of its worst fishing crises in recent years, with nearly 80% of the region’s 1,500 fishing boats, including purse seine boats and trawlers, remaining docked due to a drastic decline in the fish catch. According to Dilip Kumar, the Deputy Director of the Fisheries Department, the fishing season began on a hopeful note but has since seen a severe downturn. He added, “The boats are not catching enough fish. Some fishermen have not even been able to recover their investments and are struggling to pay their EMIs. Several accounts have turned into NPAs.”
The crisis has been attributed to the El Niño effect and changing sea temperatures, which have disrupted fish migration patterns. Overfishing is also believed to have played a significant role in worsening the situation. This marks the third consecutive year of poor fish yield, Kumar noted.
Fisheries department data reveals a steep decline in the catch. For example, in August 2024-25, the fish catch stood at 45,050 metric tonnes, slightly higher than the previous year’s 44,024 metric tonnes. However, the situation worsened in the following months, with September recording just 33,761 metric tonnes (compared to 45,014 in 2023-24) and October dropping further to 28,875 metric tonnes. November saw a drastic dip to 19,042 metric tonnes from 25,389 last year, while December plummeted to just 6,059 metric tonnes from 18,646.
Despite a slight recovery in January and February 2025, the total catch for 2023-24 was much lower than previous years, standing at 2,39,758 metric tonnes. With the monsoon approaching, the mandatory fishing ban is expected to extend until August 15, giving fish stocks a break for breeding during a nutrient influx.
The ongoing crisis has led to widespread concerns in local forums. The state government has written to the Union government requesting a uniform fishing ban period across coastal states to support sustainable fishing practices.
Mohan Bengre, former president of the Purse Seine Boat Fishermen Association, has pointed to unscientific and unsustainable fishing methods, such as light fishing and bull trawling, as key contributors to the crisis. He stressed the need for a uniform three-month fishing ban across the entire west coast to allow fish stocks to regenerate. Additionally, the significant drop in diesel consumption from 1.5 lakh litres per day to just 20,000 litres has highlighted the severity of the situation. The crisis has led to considerable revenue loss and widespread unemployment in the region.
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