Odisha marine fishers stop going to sea for fishing due to “abnormal” diesel cost

Marine fishers in Odisha, under the Odisha Marine Fish Producers Association (OMFPA), have halted fishing operations due to an 'abnormal' increase in diesel costs. They are forced to buy diesel at bulk industrial rates (₹140-142/litre) from harbour outlets, significantly higher than retail rates (₹99-101/litre), making deep-sea fishing unsustainable. The association highlights that other states like Andhra Pradesh and Gujarat provide diesel subsidies, which Odisha fishers lack. This issue, combined with rising operational expenses, declining fish availability, and reduced fishing days due to environmental bans (e.g., for Olive Ridley sea turtles) and erratic weather, has severely impacted the livelihoods of 1.5 million families dependent on the sector.