Despite odds, fishermen of Tirumullaivayal and surrounding villages in Sirkali taluk in the district have been working hard to net the most of the abundance of mathi’ fish variety. Measuring about 25 cm in length, the mathi’ fish has been the main stay for fishermen here these days. The availability of the fish coincides with the end of the ban on fishing for 45 days in Tamil Nadu. Fishermen of Tirumullaivayal said they have been getting a good catch of the variety after they ventured into the sea at the end of the fishing ban period. Kerala has been a big market for mathi fish. By virtue of its low-price and abundant availability, almost the entire catch is immediately sent to Kerala. In fact, a large number of trucks and vans are parked close to the shores. The trade involves two sets of fishermen. While one set of fishermen onboard the mechanised boats in mid sea keep catching from 6 a.m., another batch using countryboats, fill the catch in their boats and reach the shore. The arrival commences around noon and reaches the maximum by about 2 p.m. The demand for the fish can be gauged from our hard labour ensuring immediate despatch from mid sea to the shore for onward transit to Kerala, said Murali and Vijayabalan, both dealers. On an average, about 40 tonnes of this variety of fish is being sent to Kerala everyday, according to V. Vetri, another fisherman of Tirumullaivayal. Need for harbour The coastal village does not have a harbour and hence no landing facility is available. The fish are shifted as head loads by women labourers from the boats to the trucks. The Fisheries Department has taken up work on construction of fishing harbour with the state-of-the-art facilities at the village. The availability of the fish coincides with the end of the ban on fishing for 45 days in Tamil Nadu.
2016, The Hindu