Kasimedu harbour sees high footfall after 61-day fishing ban

On the first Sunday after the annual 61-day-long fishing ban on the east coast, 150 mechanised boats and 65 motorised boats landed at the Kasimedu fishing harbour in north Chennai. They brought in 540 tonnes of fish from the sea.

Apart from these, about 500 FRP boats also docked at the harbour. Among the larger sized boats, 35 put to the sea for a multi-day fishing spree and 37 returned after a single day of fishing. The harbour saw a large crowd despite it being a Krithikai day, when some people prefer to abstain from non-vegetarian food. To manage the crowd, police were deployed in the area.

Small-sized Vanjiram fish was sold for ₹750 a kg and big ones for ₹1000 to ₹1100. Sankara fish was sold at ₹450 per kg, Karaipodi at ₹260 per kg, Nethili and Mathi at ₹160 per kg, said official sources at the harbour.

Retail vendors were provided with a dedicated area and moved from the wharf where auctions happened. This was decided during a meeting of mechanised boat association office-bearers and members of the Chennai Fishing Harbour Maintenance Committee.

Earlier, officials had inspected the packing shed and fish cutting areas. They had given necessary instructions on hygiene and cleanliness.