While Chennai recovers from Cyclone Michaung’s wrath, an unexpected bounty has washed ashore at the Kasimedu fishing harbor. Over 1,000 tonnes of export-quality fish, from groupers and red snappers to prawns and rockfish, have flooded the market, impacting prices and igniting hope for the city’s fishermen.
“It’s a post-cyclone surprise,” declares V Balaji, a Kasimedu boat owner. His eyes light up as he describes the booming demand for groupers, particularly from international markets. This newfound abundance, attributed to cyclone-induced movement and fishermen venturing out after the storm, has sent prices plummeting. The prized vanjiram, normally fetching ₹1,000 per kg, now sells at a mere ₹600, while the red snapper has lost its premium price tag altogether.
Balaraman, a Kasimedu trader, explains the prawn bonanza with a grin. “The rains stirred things up, sending these beauties our way,” he says, gesturing towards overflowing baskets of crustaceans. The sudden influx has brought smiles to consumers’ faces and concerns to fishermen’s hearts.
“We were unsure what to expect after the cyclone,” admits Muthukumaran, the secretary of the Deepsea Fishing Boat Owners’ Association. But the discovery of groupers, a high-value export species, paints a brighter picture for the future. This, he believes, indicates the potential for sustained catches of export-quality fish in the days to come.
Cyclone Michaung may have left its mark on Chennai, but the Kasimedu fishing harbor is now awash in a different kind of storm – a storm of silver scales and bustling trade. While challenges remain, this unexpected bounty offers a chance for Chennai’s fishermen to weather the storm and find new opportunities in the turbulent waters.
editor
14 December 2023