ALAPPUZHA: The absence of the phenomenon of massive fish movement ‘Chaakara’ has left the fishermen, near the coastal areas, high and dry. Hundreds of boats journeys to sea expecting the Chaakara, have gone in vain for last few days. While some fishers managed to get anchovy (kozhuva) in large scale, it is not satisfactory to the fishermen.
The fishermen said that the ‘Chaakara’ is usually found in the first week of July after the monsoon rain is at its peak.
The sea becomes rough during the heavy monsoon in June and it becomes calm by July. At that time, the water from Pampa and Achankovil River reaches to the sea from Kuttanad through Thottapally. So the ‘chaakara’ phenomenon is found mostly in Purakkad, Ambalappuzha region, explained the fishermen.
Kerala Swathanthra Malsya Thozhilali Federation general secretary Jackson Pollayil said that the sea is calm and it is a suitable time to find the Chaakara.
In previous years, large amount of prawn, anchovy and other fishes were found in the season. Now this year, the chaakara is shabby which means joblessness for the fisher folk, he said.
“On July 1, the fishermen got good catch of prawn but all days after that did not yield any results,” said Xavior a fisherman from Punnapra.
“The boats going to sea for Chaakara normally start from Chally Beach in Punnapara, Thottapally fishing harbour and Paravoor Galeelia Beach. In a single boat, about 15 to 20 fishermen go the to sea,” Xaviour added.
The season is normally a dry season for fishermen. Only the fishermen who depend on the country boats are going to sea in the trawling ban period. After the implementation of trawling ban, hundreds of fish processing labours in the district also became jobless. Hundreds of employees lost jobs to the shortfall of fish in Aroor and Ambalappuzha.