Fishing season begins on happy note for Kakinada fishermen who net Konem fish worth Rs. 80L

Kakinada: After the end of the 61-day fishing ban, a group of fishermen from Kakinada's Uppada village went fishing 15 days ago hoping for a big and profitable catch. They cast their nets in the blue seas, their fingers crossed. Luck was in their favour. They caught Konem fish (also called King Fish, one of the most expensive fish, worth Rs. 80 lakhs.

Around 50 fishermen who went out to sea on four mechanised boats returned with big smiles and a huge catch. "We got nearly 4,000 Konem fish which is the most expensive and tastiest fish. Each fish weighs around 2-5 kgs and one kg costs Rs. 950. Ten years ago, we caught Konem fish worth Rs. 7 lakhs. After that, we have never caught such a large quantity of Konem fish," said Aadi, a fisherman from Uppada village under U Kothapalli mandal in Kakinada.

Generally, after the ban is lifted, the fishermen go out in the hope of getting a good catch of Tiger Prawn, White Prawn, Flower Prawn, and Brown Prawn, besides popular varieties of fish such as silver pomfret and seer fish.

"In Kakinada, we get tuna, Kavala fish, and Konem fish. We spend at least 15-20 days in the sea and spend around Rs. 6 lakhs on diesel and labor. We do not get much profits with the amount of Konem fish available. But this time, the quantity is huge," said Chinna, a fisherman from Uppada village.

According to the fishermen, they need to wait at least 4-5 days, and leave the net in the waters to catch Konem fish.

The new fishing season began in Vizag, Kakinada, Machilipatnam, Vadarevu, Kalingapatnam, and other areas in the state.

Demand in other states/countries

Konem fish is exported to Hyderabad, Mumbai, Kerala, Chennai, and many other states. Fishermen say it is in demand for its taste. The fish also has good demand in Sri Lanka, European countries, Thailand, and Japan.

Why is Konam called King fish?

· The fish has high-quality protein, minerals, and rich nutrients.

· It may lower the risk of heart attacks and strokes.

· Contains nutrients that are needed during growth development.

· A good dietary source of Vitamin D.

· It has the best taste!