Mumbai: Kashinath Bhoir has not returned to the Versova jetty for a week. Instead, he and many other fishermen have been forced to venture almost 100 nautical miles (about 185 km) into the sea to catch fish. According to his brother, Dnyanesh, the dense fog that blanketed a large stretch of the Arabian Sea off Mumbai’s coast last week has caused fish to migrate away from their usual 15-20 nautical mile range near the shore, pushing them toward warmer waters further out.
A meteorological official explained that easterly winds have carried the fog from Mumbai into the sea, stretching 40-50 nautical miles offshore and reducing visibility to just 2 km for fishing vessels.
Devendra Tandel, head of the Fishermen’s Association, and Rajhans Tapke noted that this haze has forced fishing boats and trawlers to consume far more fuel as they travel longer distances, up to 100 nautical miles. The movement of fish to warmer waters is also affecting catches, leading to higher fish prices in the city’s markets.
Shifting weather patterns have altered traditional fish migration routes. Bombay duck, typically found near Versova, has been spotted farther north, near Palghar and even approaching Gujarat. Similarly, sardines have migrated from the Konkan region to waters south of Mumbai. Tandel added that pomfrets have also moved significantly beyond Mumbai’s waters.
Tapke pointed out that a recent collision between a fishing vessel and a cargo ship occurred due to the poor visibility caused by the thick fog. Kamble, another meteorologist, explained that the easterly winds blowing toward the western coast are carrying dust and pollutants from various parts of the state, pushing the smog farther out to sea. “It’s not just Mumbai’s pollution, but also from surrounding areas as the wind moves from the countryside toward the coast,” he said. The prolonged fog over Mumbai is a result of moisture from the interaction of easterly, northerly, and westerly winds over Maharashtra, causing condensation.
What began as a temperature drop-induced fog has now evolved into widespread smog, with heavy moisture and low wind speed trapping dust and smoke from vehicles, garbage, and construction sites in the air. Fortunately, since Monday, the smog has been gradually clearing.
Tandel, who heads the All Maharashtra Fishermen’s Action Committee, said that the costs for fuel, ice for cold storage, and vessel maintenance have skyrocketed in the past week, driving up the price of fish. He added that late arrivals of fishing boats are also contributing to shortages. “The price of Bombay duck has more than doubled, while pomfrets and surmai are now 30-35% more expensive. If the weather persists, prices could rise even further,” Tapke warned.
