Visakhapatnam: As the new fishing season begins in the state, wholesalers expect fish prices to rise on account of the increase in cost of transportation after the lockdown was eased.
Local retail markets in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu are expected to bear the brunt of price escalation, with rates expected to increase three-fold.
“Transportation cost has increased by at least 25 to 30 per cent. To add to this, stringent checks at state borders are resulting in delay of deliveries. A lot of our stocks are getting spoiled before they can reach retail markets. All these reasons put together would see a huge increase in price of fishes within a week,” Ummidi Yallarao, a wholesaler told TOI.
Every year, Andhra Pradesh exports its marine and freshwater catch to Karnataka, Telangana, Chhattisgarh and parts of Tamil Nadu, Kerala and West Bengal. From June 1 to July 31, when fishing is banned on the west coast of India, AP also exports fish to Maharashtra and parts of Gujarat.
Traders said after the start of the new fishing season on June 1, autorickshaw drivers and mini-van drivers are charging almost twice the fare from landing centres to wholesale markets in the state.
“After purchasing these fishes we are also paying an increased transportation rent to hire intra-state and interstate trucks. There is no alternate way to get rid of this problem,” Arijili Dasu, a fishermen activist told TOI.
Fishermen who had ventured out at the beginning of the season said the catch in the first two weeks of the new season has been good, with some species available in large quantities.
“Despite the good catch we are compelled to sell fish at a high price to wholesalers because transportation costs to wholesale markets have increased,” said M Bullaya, a fisherman.
