Seafood Prices See Steep Rise in Coastal Districts of Odisha
The price of seafood has witnessed a steep rise in the coastal districts of Kendrapada, Jagatsinghpur, and other areas of Odisha amidst the ongoing ban on fishing by mechanized boats and trawlers in the sea. The two-month-long fishing ban, effective from April 15 to June 14, aims to protect the breeding period of fish but has led to a significant surge in prices.
Price Hikes Affecting Consumers and Businesses
For instance, Pomfret fish, which normally sells for Rs 300 per kilogram, is now being sold at Rs 500 per kilogram. Some hotels and restaurants have decided to serve only freshwater fish for the time being. Jagannath Prasad Das, a restaurant owner at Paradip, said, "We used to sell prawn at Rs 400 per plate prior to the fishing ban. Now we are selling at Rs 600 per plate."
Ashok Behera, a 42-year-old fish vendor in Kendrapada, noted, "The price rise was expected at this time of the year because of fewer fishing activities due to the ban. The price hike ranges between 30% and 100%."
Varieties of Fish Affected
The price of popular sea fish like Kani, Khanga, Khuranda, Bhekti, Khasuli, Eel, Ray Sting, Ray, prawn, and other varieties has gone up by 30 to 100%. Prices of other common fish species also soared, with Kani being sold at Rs 250 per kilogram. Prior to the fishing ban, it was being sold at Rs 150 per kilogram.
Babaji Mandal, a fish seller at Rajnagar, explained, "At the moment, our fish supply is limited and as such, the price hike is not in our hands. Some fish vendors stocked large quantities of fish in cold storages and they are now minting money."
Fishing Ban Details
Around 6,000 fishing vessels, including 1,726 trawlers registered with the Department of Fisheries, which bring in tonnes of marine products every day, remain moored at fishing harbours and jetties throughout the state during the ban period. Small mechanized and non-mechanized boats less than 8.5 meters long, which use nets with big gaps, are exempted from the ban.
The price surge is expected to continue until the ban is lifted on June 14, impacting both consumers and the hospitality industry in the region.
