KARWAR: Unlock 4.0 hasn't brought much cheer to fishermen of Uttara Kannada. The catch, many fishermen rue, isn't good quality fish.

Fishing in Karwar port had come to halt for over 20 days in January owing to the agitation against expansion of the port under Sagaramala project. Fishing activity resumed in February after the high court stayed the project. However, between February and March the catch was poor with most fishing boats returning empty. "And then came the lockdown which made matters," said Vinayak Harikantra, president of Youth Fishermen organisation in Karwar.

Most of the workers who work on boats are from Jharkhand, Orissa and West Bengal. They went home during the lockdown as there was no work. "None of them have returned and boats are lying idle with no workers to go fishing," adds Vinayak.

August and September witnessed volatile weather not conducive for fishing. “At least four purse-seine boats have sunk in the sea in the last 15 days between Karwar and Bhatkal. Though the fishermen were rescued, owners of the boats suffered heavy losses,” says Suresh Harikant a fisherman from Karwar. Neighbouring Goa had banned the entry of vehicles due to the pandemic with fishermen losing business.

“For last few days our catch has been like of jelly fish which is useless. We have to pay to for labours even though there is no catch. The fish famine has affected us badly. The government should think of helping us at this difficult juncture,” said Ganesh Surangekar, a traditional fisherman.