Udupi/Malpe: A disruption in crude oil supply due to the war situation in the Middle East has affected the fishing sector along Karnataka's coast, forcing hundreds of mechanised boats to remain anchored at harbours in Dakshina Kannada, Udupi and Uttara Kannada districts.
The shortage of diesel, which is essential for deep-sea fishing operations, has left boat owners and fishermen facing heavy losses.
According to fishermen, each 10 to 11-day deep-sea fishing trip requires around 5,500 to 6,000 litres of diesel. On average, a boat needs nearly 18,000 litres of diesel every month.
While fishermen receive 90,000 litres of diesel at subsidised rates for 10 months, they require an additional 9,000 litres beyond this. The present fuel shortage has been affecting them for the last 15 days.
Diesel being distributed on rotation basis
To manage the shortage, the Fisheries Department has started distributing the available diesel on a rotation basis.
Diesel was earlier supplied through fuel stations located inside harbour premises. In Udupi, there are six consumer bunks and four retailer bunks, while the Mangaluru region has three retailer bunks and two consumer bunks. Uttara Kannada has a total of 18 bunks, including consumer and retailer outlets.
Officials said some consumer bunks have now been shut down due to losses. As a result, diesel is currently being supplied mainly through retailer bunks, but the quantity available is far below the requirement of fishermen.
Private petrol bunks outside the harbour are also reportedly limiting supply to not more than 500 litres.
Because of this, more than 150 boats in the Udupi region, over 200 boats in Mangaluru, and over 150 boats in Uttara Kannada have remained off the sea.
Other boats are managing by borrowing diesel from fellow operators.
Department writes to oil companies
The Director of the Fisheries Department has written to fuel suppliers such as Bharat Petroleum, Indian Oil Corporation and Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Limited (MRPL) seeking uninterrupted supply for fishermen.
At the district level too, joint directors and deputy directors have held meetings with fishermen and submitted requests to the companies.
Officials said retailers have informed them that only 10 per cent of the average quantity already purchased by fishermen can currently be supplied.
Dakshina Kannada Joint Director Siddayya, Uttara Kannada Joint Director Ravindra and Udupi Assistant Director Divakar said discussions are under way to improve supply and resolve the issue.
Fishermen report mounting losses
Boat owner Shekhar G Kottian said deep-sea fishing boats operating for 10 to 12 days require 5,000 to 6,000 litres of diesel, and the shortage has made it impossible to send boats into the sea.
He said the final one or two months of the fishing season are usually the most productive for fish catch, but the diesel shortage has come at a critical time.
Gopal R K, chief executive officer of the Mechanised and Country Boat Fishermen's Cooperative Society, Malpe, said nearly 60 per cent of boats are unable to get diesel under the current arrangement.
He urged the Central government to immediately increase the quantity of diesel allocated to retailer bunks.
Protest over inadequate supply
Fishermen in Mangaluru held discussions and staged a protest with officials of Indian Oil Corporation.
Officials had reportedly assured a supply of 500 kilolitres, but only 400 kilolitres were supplied on Saturday.
Malpe Trawler Boat Association president Karunakar Salian and Mangaluru boat owner Rajaratna Sanil said the current quantity is insufficient and warned that continued shortage would result in severe losses for the fishing community.