[Reader-list] Fish turns too dear in State's capital

[T Peter]

By Express News Service
20 May 2011 12:05:28 AM IST


Fish turns too dear in State's capital

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The price of fish in the city is skyrocketing
owing to poor catch. Obviously,  the reason for this shortage is the
global climate change and the changes in the seasons.
Sample this, as per the price index in one of the major fish shops in
Vellayambalam, the price of seer fish (neymeen) on Thursday stood at
Rs 560 per kilogram.
The prices of some other major fish varieties on the day are as
follows: Emperor fish (villa meen) Rs 520, anchovies (natholi) Rs 215,
shrimp Rs 650, crab Rs 315, tuna (choora) Rs 350, grouper (kalava) Rs
250 and shark Rs 380.
Kerala Swathanthra Matsya Thozhilali Federation (KSMTF) president T
Peter said that  climate change was one of the factors that resulted
in the reduction of fish wealth. This, in turn, has resulted in a hike
in the price of fish, he said.
Peter said that the large-scale fishing activities carried out by
foreign trawlers and use of purse seine nets in deep sea was another
factor. As a result, there has been a reduction in the availability of
fish in shallow waters, he said.
Now, all species of fish are in short supply. For instance,
traditionally, this is a season when the catch of tuna ought to have
been good. However, this year, this has not been the case, he said.
The enforcement of the 45-day-ban on fishing by mechanised boats in
Tamil Nadu from April 15 has resulted in poor landing of fish.
The devastation of the 2004 tsunami, environmental degradation and
short-sighted development projects are the other issues that are
adversely affecting the fish populations of coastal areas along the
Indian Ocean, placing the balance of complex marine ecosystems and the
livelihoods of fishermen at risk.
Changes in the sea level and temperature due to climate change have
already had a negative  impact on the coral reefs.
Apart from that, the commercial deep sea trawling and removal of the
protective cover of mangroves along the coast have also negatively
affected the fragile marine ecosystems.


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