Seeing price of fish in Kerala rn is honestly just shocking . For so many families,it's main part of their daily meal,and now it's becoming a luxury item.
And this is happening especially during monsoon season,which is already tough time for many . In Thiruvananthapuram,you can see traditional fishing boats just sitting on the coast,not able to go out to sea because of weather .
This is creating huge pressure on vendors . One local fish vendor,Dileef Rehman,said seasonal trawling ban means catch is limited to what small boats can get with handlines and fishing rods . This is much less productive than using nets,so availability is very low.
And tbh,it's not just about less fish,it's about safety too . Jackson Pollayil,who is State president of the Kerala Swatantra Matsya Thozhilali Union,highlighted that seas are so rough that normal fishing has become a hazardous job .
This whole thing is a chain reaction ah.
Few things standing out from this situation:
- Sardine prices have jumped like anything,from ₹150 per kg to ₹480 on some days.
- Fish vendors,and many of them are women,are finding it very hard to maintain their livelihood.
- Hotels are now forced to reduce portion sizes,which affects customers also.
And it's not just sardines . Vendors are reporting that mackerel price reached ₹700 last week . Tuna and anchovies have also seen big price hikes. It's just unbelievable .
One hotel owner in Palayam,Swaroop Ashraf,mentioned that rising costs of fish,cooking gas,and meat are forcing them to reevaluate portions . This is difficult because they might lose customers who come for affordable meals.
But this is not just business problem,it's a household problem . For so many people in Kerala,a meal isn't complete without fish . This directly impacts food security of ordinary citizens.
Everyone is hoping for conditions to improve so things can go back to normal . But as monsoon continues,you have to wonder how long fishermen and small vendors can survive this… and what families will put on their plate…
