Matsyafed Chairman V.Dinakaran said since the 2004 tsunami, there had been serious changes in the sea conditions. Mr.George said only about 20 to 30 traditional boats were venturing daily out of Kochi and its neighbouring harbous out of a normal-time average of 50 to 60. This is because of the poor catch. The Matsyafed official pointed out that the lower number of crafts going off the Kochi coast could also be attributed to the fact that many workers were taken in by the 61-day ban on fishing imposed by the Union Government off the West Coast.