Karwar: Fishing activity in coastal Uttara Kannada began on Saturday after a gap of one-and-a-half months. However only a limited catch was available and majority of fishermen returned empty-handed without catching any fish.

On Saturday and Sunday about 60 mechanized fishing boats, besides many purse siene boats, went for fishing in the Arabain Sea from Karwar port. But almost all the boats retuned empty without fish. Many fishermen said they were hoping for a good catch this time as the climate was good. “Contrary to our expectation, we did not get any fish. Already we have incurred heavy losses due to lockdown,” said Vinayak Harikatra, a fisherman. He said maintaining boats and paying salary to workers has become very difficult for many fishermen.

The fishermen said they are baffled by one problem after the other. Repeated cyclones affected their business last year. Thereafter fisheries port was shut for more than a month in January in protest against the Sagaramala project at Karwar. During March fishing was banned by the government owing to the Covid. There after though the government extended fishing activity by 15 days in June there was fish famine.

Preparation for fishing activity by fishermen two days ago as they painted the boats and worshipped them. But non-availability of fish has left them in deep distress.