Fishing has been banned in the coastal areas of the district for 46 days with effect from Friday in the wake of monsoon.

The ban has been effected ten days ahead of the fishing season as the catch has decreased.

Except for traditional fishing, mechanised fishing has been banned till July 31, as it is the breeding season for fish. The fishermen in the ports of Karwar, Belekeri, Tadadi, Kumta, Honnavar and Bhatkal are busy bringing their boats ashore in the wake of the ban.

There are 2,182 mechanised boats in the districts including purseine, trawlers and deep sea trawlers. During the last fishing season, the catch was 88,859 metric tonne registering a turnover of Rs 31.41 crore.

This year, however, there is only a gradual increase of 800 MT.