Udupi: Strong winds and rough sea conditions over the past two days have disrupted fishing activities along the coastal belt, forcing purse seine and small trawler boats to remain at harbour or stay anchored at sea.
The adverse conditions have particularly affected purse seine fishing from Malpe harbour, with fishermen unable to venture into the sea and operate their nets safely.
While several deep-sea fishing vessels continue to operate, a number of boats that could not undertake fishing have been forced to remain at harbour or anchor mid-sea until conditions improve.
Purse seine boats remain docked
Purse seine boats have reportedly remained docked at the harbours of Mangaluru, Malpe, Gangolli, Bhatkal and Karwar due to the rough sea.
Fishermen said the prevailing conditions have made it difficult to cast and operate purse seine nets. The strong winds and turbulent waters can affect the positioning of boats and make net operations difficult and risky.
Some fishing nets that had already been deployed were also reportedly damaged because of the rough conditions.
With fishing operations dependent heavily on sea conditions, fishermen have been forced to suspend or limit their activities until the waters become calmer.
No major storm reported
Malpe Purse Seine Fishermen’s Association president Nagaraj Suvarna said the current conditions were not caused by any major storm at sea.
According to him, the rough sea is a natural phenomenon that is often witnessed after the new moon as the full moon approaches.
“Due to the present sea conditions, purse seine boats are unable to cast their nets properly. Some of the nets that had already been deployed have also been damaged. Therefore, the boats have returned. The sea is expected to return to normal within a day or two,” he said.
His remarks indicate that fishermen are expecting the conditions to improve shortly, although they are continuing to monitor the sea before resuming normal operations.
Fishing activity affected across coast
The disruption has been reported along several coastal fishing centres, including Mangaluru, Malpe, Gangolli, Bhatkal and Karwar.
Purse seine fishing is particularly dependent on favourable sea conditions because the method involves deploying a large net around schools of fish. Rough waters and strong winds can make the operation difficult and increase the risk of damage to fishing gear.
Small trawler boats have also been unable to venture into the sea from Malpe harbour during the prevailing conditions.
However, the impact has not been uniform across all fishing vessels. Several deep-sea fishing boats have continued their operations, indicating that larger vessels operating farther offshore have been able to manage the conditions better.
Nets damaged in rough waters
The rough sea has also resulted in damage to some fishing nets that had already been deployed.
Fishing nets are among the most important and expensive pieces of equipment used by purse seine fishermen. Damage to nets can therefore add to the financial burden on boat owners and fishing crews, particularly when fishing operations are already affected by adverse weather.
Fishermen are assessing the condition of their equipment and waiting for safer conditions before returning to regular operations.
The temporary suspension is also aimed at avoiding unnecessary risks to the lives of fishermen and preventing further damage to boats and fishing gear.
Fishermen monitoring sea conditions
With the sea remaining rough, fishermen are closely monitoring the conditions before deciding when to resume fishing.
According to the Malpe Purse Seine Fishermen’s Association, the sea could return to normal within a day or two. However, fishing crews are expected to take a cautious approach and venture out only when conditions are considered suitable.
The disruption has once again highlighted the dependence of coastal fishing communities on weather and sea conditions.
For now, purse seine boats remain largely inactive at several harbours, while fishermen await calmer waters. Deep-sea vessels that are already operating continue to monitor the situation.
If conditions improve as expected, regular fishing activity from Malpe and other coastal harbours could resume over the next couple of days.