Mumbai: Marine experts have raised concerns over the decline in landings of commercial fish in Maharashtra, including Indian Mackerel and Bombay Duck (Bombil), which has reduced up to 44 per cent as compared to the year 2017.
In the latest findings by the Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI), it was revealed that overall landings of fish in Maharashtra has reduced since last year.
In Maharashtra, Mumbai, Palghar, Thane and Ratnagiri have lesser fish landings owing to overfishing and catching of a large number of juvenile fish.
The total fish landings in Maharashtra in the year 2018 stood at 2.95 lakh tonnes 22.5 per cent less than 3.81 lakh tonnes in 2017. Also among all the nine maritime states, Maharashtra constitutes of only 8.5 per cent of fish production.
According to CMFRI, even though the landings of Indian Mackerel in Maharashtra has decreased since 2017, the number is still at par with the average. In 2017, landings of the same were in abundance.
However, Bombay Duck, found in Northern Maharashtra, has declined significantly in the last three years. Except for some fish groups like Wolf Herring, Hilsa Shads, Horse Mackerel, Leather jackets, white fish, Longtail, Tuna most of the fish catch was lower than the previous year. Mumbai fishermen believe that overfishing of juvenile fish before attaining full gro-wth is leading to a decline in the fish population.
“In Maharashtra, the stock of Bombay Duck is only 15 per cent while the Pomfret fish is left at 20 per cent. This year, the state government’s Monsoon ban on fishing is being uplifted 15 days early, unlike previous years. The breeding of juvenile fish begins in May and it is important sufficient time is given to them to attain proper growth,” said Damodar Tandel, president of Akhil Maharashtra Machhimar Kruti Samiti.
Meanwhile, the CMFRI has recommended that the sale of fish with size lesser than the prescribed limit should be banned.
In such a case, the production of juvenile fish would not be curbed and also the fishermen will fetch good amount on selling bigger fish,” observed CMFRI.
