The impact of truant weather is showing on the marine and inland fisheries. The catch of many varieties of fish has started declining. The lateral and vertical shift in temperature of the sea water has triggered migration of fish on the eastern as well as western coast in the last one month. As a result, common fish varieties like Indian oil sardines, mackerels, pink perches and croakers and the high value fish like seer, cuttle, pomfret and king fish have become scarce in the markets all over Karnataka. Director of Fisheries Veerappa Gowda told Express: “There is no parameter to scientifically say or prove that less rain affects fish production in the sea. It could be true in the case of inland fishes as their primary life support is fresh water. But in the sea, it is the intricate balance of salinity and temperature which govern the fish migration and volumes. There were no sardines habitually in the east coast. But the fishermen there have begun netting sardines. Likewise the giant sardines usually found in Gujarat shores are now being netted in Karnataka and Goa. But surely, the lack of rains on land or on the sea will have some effect on the balance in the sea waters. In the current season August 2015 to May 2016 the Lady Fish (Kane in Kannada) has made a disappearing act. These slender and tasty fish breed and live in the brackish waters (Estuarine environment) and need a delicate balance of salinity and nutrients. According to traditional fishermen, due to lack of rains in the last monsoon season, the breeding areas of the fish has been bombarded with salt water due to low pressure push of fresh water from the river. “This time, the pre-monsoon showers are totally absent till today. They bring nutrients from the Western Ghats, which enrich the coastal eco-system. But this time that may not happen and we see another fish famine in the next season, says fishermen leader Keshava Karkera. Officials of the Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (affiliate to ICAR) confirm that the lack of fresh water draining into the sea during the monsoon will have correlative effects on the ecosystem. Market Fact Check * Lady fish usually sold at `700 per kg now costs `800 * Pink perches, ribbon fish and kingfish are absent from the market * Catch of inland varieties like catla and rohu has seen a 40 per cent dip

2016, The New Indian Express.