Karwar: Motorized boats have kept off the Arabian Sea due to adverse weather conditions like strong wind and high waves. More than 60 fishing boats from the state’s coastal districts, and also from the states of Goa and Kerala are anchored off the Baithakol port here.

Giant waves as high as nine feet can be seen up to a distance of 50 km from the coast. The wind speed is 29 kmph. The Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services provides daily updates to the mobile phones of fishermen regarding the weather conditions.

Based on that, the fishermen decide whether to go for fishing or not. Boats have not ventured out to the sea in the past five days, said Eknath, the owner of one of the fishing boats.

Fishermen from other states are not allowed to sell their catch in the local markets. Only if the fish start getting spoilt they can sell them, but with the permission of the local fishermen’s federation. With fishing coming to a halt, prices have gone up in he local fish market. The inclement weather may continue for two more days.