Kerala sees fall in seafood catch
There is an alarming drop in the seafood catch from the western coast this year, especially in the Kerala and Goa coasts. Industry estimates that the fall could be as high as 50% when compared with the previous year.
By S Sanandakumar, TNN |
KOCHI: There is an alarming drop in the seafood catch from the western coast this year, especially in the Kerala and Goa coasts. Industry estimates that the fall could be as high as 50% when compared with the previous year. The decline in catch has adversely affected all major segments of the industry starting from the boat operators, ice factories, the peeling sheds, freezing plants and the transporters.
Joseph Xavier Kalappurakkal, general secretary of the Kerala State Fishing Boat Operators Association, said: “Except for some deep sea varieties like deep sea prawns and red ring prawns other species seems to have disappeared altogether.” The western coast, especially the Kerala coastline, has around 70 to 80 species of marine life, he said. “Usually we get certain varieties of shrimps, pomfret, sardines, mackerel during this season,” Mr Xavier said.
The fall in catch was noticed from last October. Since then the prices of many varieties have increased, he said. The decline in catch in the western coast has been a hotly debated topic for the last six to seven years. But it is this year that the disturbing trend of shrinking catch has affected all the segments of the industry. A majority of the boats are lying idle at the fishing harbours, Mr Xavier said.
Interestingly, in the year after the tsunami attack certain undersea phenomenon like the disappearance of traditional fishing grounds and spotting of new, strange varieties of marine life was reported. This year the catch has also declined.
AJ Tharakan, president, Seafood Exporters Association of India (SEAI), also said that the catch has dropped considerably this year. Mr Tharakan attributes the fall in sea catch to the lack of conservation measures. “We have to have a control over the net size used, the licensing of boats and in the overall fishing effort,” he said.
He said the decline could be around 35% but added that the processing industry will not feel it much as it is getting fish from other states also. However, the rest of the industry has been affected in a more serious manner due to the fall in catch. An official of Marine Products Export Development Authority said that the decline in catch is a cause for concern.
Joseph Xavier Kalappurakkal, general secretary of the Kerala State Fishing Boat Operators Association, said: “Except for some deep sea varieties like deep sea prawns and red ring prawns other species seems to have disappeared altogether.” The western coast, especially the Kerala coastline, has around 70 to 80 species of marine life, he said. “Usually we get certain varieties of shrimps, pomfret, sardines, mackerel during this season,” Mr Xavier said.
The fall in catch was noticed from last October. Since then the prices of many varieties have increased, he said. The decline in catch in the western coast has been a hotly debated topic for the last six to seven years. But it is this year that the disturbing trend of shrinking catch has affected all the segments of the industry. A majority of the boats are lying idle at the fishing harbours, Mr Xavier said.
Interestingly, in the year after the tsunami attack certain undersea phenomenon like the disappearance of traditional fishing grounds and spotting of new, strange varieties of marine life was reported. This year the catch has also declined.
AJ Tharakan, president, Seafood Exporters Association of India (SEAI), also said that the catch has dropped considerably this year. Mr Tharakan attributes the fall in sea catch to the lack of conservation measures. “We have to have a control over the net size used, the licensing of boats and in the overall fishing effort,” he said.
He said the decline could be around 35% but added that the processing industry will not feel it much as it is getting fish from other states also. However, the rest of the industry has been affected in a more serious manner due to the fall in catch. An official of Marine Products Export Development Authority said that the decline in catch is a cause for concern.
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