Wed Apr 30 10:38:26 UTC 2025: ## Tamil Nadu’s Fishing Ban Opens Up a World of New Seafood Delights

**Chennai, April 30, 2025** – The 61-day ban on mechanized fishing boats in Tamil Nadu has created an unexpected boon for seafood lovers: a chance to explore a wider variety of fish beyond the usual pomfret and seer. With larger vessels off the water, smaller boats are bringing in a diverse catch, offering consumers a unique opportunity to sample lesser-known species.

Fishermen like S. Ethiraj from Nochi Kuppam are recommending unusual varieties like kilicha (a small white fish ideal for kuzhambu or varuval), muliyan (a similar white fish best fried), and velli udan (a small, moon-like fish with soft flesh). Other options available include kili meen (parrot fish with sweet crab-like meat) and karapodi (a flat fish).

Independent researcher A. Bhagath Singh, author of *Seasoned by the Sea*, notes that the ban has also led smaller vessels to employ line fishing, resulting in catches of sheela, a fish perfect for a tamarind and mango kuzhambu. Furthermore, mathi (sardines), typically found on the West Coast, are now appearing in Coromandel Coast nets, likely due to shifting water currents. Larger fish like “periya sankara” (a larger version of thendal) are also available.

Fishermen advise consumers to visit coastal markets early in the morning (6 am to 11 am) to buy directly from them. Nochi Kuppam market near the Lighthouse is suggested as a good starting point. The ban, while impacting larger fishing operations, has provided smaller fishermen with a period of unhindered work, and a chance to offer a richer and more diverse selection of seafood to the public.

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