Sea pollution hits prawn, fish catch

The Times of India , Thursday, August 25, 2016
Correspondent : Manish M
VISAKHAPATNAM: Despite being blessed with a well-endowed coastline, fisherfolk representatives are worried that several species of marine catch are dwindling at an alarming rate along the Vizag coast.

According to fisherfolk representatives, prawn varieties including tiger prawn, brown prawn catch have been dwindling at a drastic rate in the last four to five years. At the same time, fish varieties such as white pomphret and black pomphret are not as visible as earlier times.

Citing an example, Visakha Dolphin Boat Owners Association presidentChSatyanarayana Murthy said, "About four years ago, whenever our boats used to go on a voyage, we used to haul in at least 100 to 200 kgs of tiger prawn. But, now it is hardly 5 or 10 kilos. Similar is the case with brown prawn and white prawn. White prawn haul has dropped drastically as earlier we used to net 100 to 200 kilos, whereas now it is just 20-25 kilos per voyage."

He said, "The major problem here for fishermen is that these varieties are high-value products. If the catch of such prawns reduces, then we can't even recover our basic expenditure."

Furthermore, he said, "Increased pollution along the coast is one of the major reasons for the drop in fish catch."

While tiger prawn is priced at around Rs 1,100 per kilo, brown prawn is sold at around Rs 330 per kilo, whereas white prawn costs Rs 600 per kilo.

Similarly, white pomphret costs around Rs 600 per kilo, while black pomphret costs around Rs 250 per kilo. Concurring, executive secretary of District Fishermen's Youth Welfare Association, ArjilliDasu said, "Three major reasons are contributing to the decline in fish and prawn catch - marine pollution, climate change and bottom trawling (towing a fishing net along the sea floor)."

He said, "Majority of the prawns, whether it is tiger prawn or brown prawn or white prawn, are dwindling. Fishermen are hardly able to catch anything exceeding 20 to 25 kilos of these varieties during the current voyages. If we don't take concerted effort on this, fishing will not be viable in the coming days."

 
SOURCE : http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/visakhapatnam/Sea-pollution-hits-prawn-fish-catch/articleshow/53852274.cms
 


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