Chennai's Kasimedu Harbour Roars Back: 600 Tonnes of Fish Sold After 61-Day Ban
After a 61-day annual fishing ban, the Kasimedu Fishing Harbour in Chennai witnessed a bustling Sunday as around 600 tonnes of fish were sold, marking the resumption of normal fishing operations.
The wholesale auctioning of fish began at 2 a.m., followed by retail sales from 5 a.m., drawing large numbers of eager buyers. The ban had ended at midnight on June 15, and boats that had set out on four- to five-day trips started returning from Saturday night onwards.
A Fisheries Department official said, “A section of boats had been returning daily since Tuesday after fishing for a few hours, bringing back around 250 to 400 tonnes of fish each day. Out of the total 800 mechanised boats docked at the harbour, 50 are under repair, 600 have been actively fishing, and 120 returned with their catch on the first Sunday after the ban.”
The catch included varieties such as mullets, vaala meen, octopus, anchovies, small-sized paarai, and shrimp. Fishermen also displayed large-sized grouper fish, locally known as Kalavaan, and sharks caught in their nets.
Prices remained stable, with a trader noting, “Prices were quite nominal — neither very high nor very low — making both fishermen and buyers happy.” Fish from Kasimedu is traditionally transported in baskets by women to local markets across the city.
Fishing community leader M.D. Dayalan highlighted a shift in consumption habits: “Earlier, sharks, Thirukkai, and Koala were not consumed like regular fish. They were cut into pieces, salted (made into uppu kandam), and sent to Sri Lanka. Now people have started consuming these varieties too.”
The revival of the harbour underscores the importance of the fishing ban in sustaining marine resources while balancing the livelihoods of the fishing community.
