MANGALURU: Triggerfish , known as ‘klaati’ by the locals, has affected fishing in the coastal district While on the one hand the triggerfish have left workers hailing from Tamil Nadu exhausted, who in turn have extended their Pongal leave , on the other, the fish has kept the fleets in business even during this lean season.Fishermen say this is perhaps the first time in years that they have sighted triggerfish in such large quantities in these parts. Each boat has been getting a catch of around 40 – 50 tonnes of triggerfish, which in Mangaluru normally would otherwise be a little over one-tenth of this number.“I have been in this industry for almost 25 years but I do not remember the time I saw triggerfish in such large quantities. In the three months beginning from November last year, which is a lean time for fishing activities, we have most of our boats anchored at the dockyard. However, the triggerfish has kept our fleets engaged this time around,” said William, a boat owner. He said while the triggerfish business is not too profitable, boat owners are glad that the boats are at least operational.The fishermen are not aware of the reason behind the sudden surge in triggerfish numbers in these waters.This fish is one of the key reasons why workers have extended their Pongal leave. The dead triggerfish gives out a strong stench and their transport to the dock is a tiresome exercise. Once caught, the workers need to load the fish in ice chambers and then unload them at the dock, which leaves them exhausted. “They have worked day and night for several days before they went on leave. The triggerfish has put us in a dicey situation. While we cannot afford to pay the workers more than Rs 1,000 per day for toiling day and night, the workers on the other hand do not find their efforts worth the money. By now, we expected them to be back at work. Though some have turned up, most haven’t,” said Vinod, a boat owner.Triggerfish is mainly used as one of the components in poultry feed and also in extraction of oil.

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