Mangaluru: LPG cylinder shortage partially halts fishing operations

Mangaluru : Fishing operations along the Mangaluru coast have been partially halted due to a severe shortage of commercial LPG cylinders, causing significant disruption to the local fishing community.

Over 1,500 vessels, including purse seiners and trawlers, are docked at the Mangaluru fishing harbor. Many boats are stranded at the shore, with vessel owners stating that the cylinder shortage has worsened their already challenging conditions.

According to the boat owners, the supply of commercial LPG cylinders has been stopped for the past three days. Samir, a mechanized boat owner, said, “We pay Rs. 1,800 for a 19 kg commercial cylinder, but the suppliers suddenly informed us that no cylinders are available.” While kerosene stoves are a potential alternative, their limited use and insufficient availability make them impractical. Meanwhile, black-market cylinder prices have surged to Rs. 5,000.

Another boat owner expressed distress, saying, “How are we supposed to survive the remaining two months of the fishing season? During the monsoon, fishing is banned, leaving us unemployed.” Owners have appealed to the government to direct dealers to supply cylinders to fishing vessels promptly.

Typically, crew members on these vessels rely on LPG cylinders for three meals a day during trips. A single purse seiner carries about 35–40 workers, and deep-sea fishing trips last 6–10 days, requiring a minimum of five cylinders per trip. Trawlers, with smaller crews, still require at least three cylinders.

Fisherman Mohan Nayak explained, “One cylinder lasts only two to three days. If we fail to catch fish, we must extend our trips. But due to the limited supply of cylinders, we had to return early. Catching fewer fish increases seafood prices and causes shortages.”

After returning to the harbor, crew members usually remain onboard because no separate accommodation is provided. “Due to the cylinder shortage, we have been relying on hotel food, but we cannot sustain this for long,” said another worker.

The ongoing shortage highlights the critical dependence of Mangaluru’s fishing industry on LPG cylinders for cooking during trips, underscoring the urgent need for timely supply to prevent further disruption to both livelihoods and seafood supply in the region.