Kendrapada: With lifting of the 60-day fishing ban, marine fishermen resumed fishing activities off the Odisha coast on Saturday. The ban was imposed from April 15 to June 14 to facilitate increase in fish population through natural breeding. As many as 21,000 fishing vessels, including 2,000 trawlers, registered with the department of fisheries set sail, said Bijay Kar, the additional director of fisheries, Kujang.
The fishermen kept themselves busy during the ban time by repairing their equipment and fishing boats.Fishermen from Andhra Pradesh have returned to the state’s seaside fishing villages to join the fishing folks. Before fishermen ventured into the sea, they were busy loading ice bars in boats to maintain freshness of the catch at Paradip, Kharinashi, Jamboo, Talachua and other areas.
Fish merchants from West Bengal have already arrived in fishing harbours to purchase the catch from fishermen.
“Seafood exporters have opened their offices and fish collection centres to buy fish and prawn from the fishermen,” said Bikram Das, a seafood supplier of Paradip.
“The 60-day-long fishing ban during the breeding season has proved to be a great success. The breeding period helps us to catch big shrimps that fetch a good price,” said Narayan Haldar, president of Odisha Masyajibi Forum.
Fish prices, which were skyrocketing due to non-supply of adequate fish during the ban, are expected to reduce soon.
“The impact on fish prices would be felt in local markets in a few days,” said Prafulla Behera, a fish merchant of Kendrapada.

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