Mangaluru: Moodbidri MLA Umanath Kotian inaugrated the annual Matsyotsava, or fish festival, at the Dr. K. Shivaram Karanth Pilikula Nisargadhama on Sunday.

The event, which was jointly organized by the Pilikula Nisargadhama and Fisheries Department, attracted scores of people who relished fish delicacies and took home fresh fish too.

The MLA spoke during the event and said that work done by then Deputy Commissioner Bharatlal Meena in bringing up the Nisargadhama should always be remembered. Though Nisargadhama is on the international tourism map, people around Mangaluru are yet to exploit its potential.

During the event, fish which were the result of the seedlings released last year were caught and fresh fish seedlings were released into Pilikula lake. The freshwater fish available at the event brought much joy to the people of the coast who are used to the sea fish.

The event also included exhibition and sale of varieties of fish as well as auction of the fish caught.