A COMPELLING study published in the Science journal in November last year predicted the end of the fisheries industries by 2050. The researchers led by Prof. Boris Worm of Dalhousie University in Nova Scotia, Canada, came to the shocking conclusion after analysing dozens of studies by authoritative sources.

"The Boris Worm study basically conveys that the way fishing is conducted now is not sustainable," says Dr. M.R. Boopendranath, Principal Scientist at Central Institute of Fisheries Technology (CIFT) in Cochin. Due to uncontrolled fishing using non-selective fishing gears, larger and longer living fish species are fished out first.

Threat to sustainability

This threatens ecosystem sustainability, he warns. The report, like many other such studies, has met with scepticism in some circles. However it had marine biologists around the world sitting up and taking notice of a sector that has been vastly overexploited over the years.

Amongst the various fish products exported by India to Japan, U.S and Western Europe shrimp remains a favourite.

Although shrimp farming has resulted in a positive effect on the Indian economy, the large-scale fishing operations involved have affected the marine ecosystem drastically.

Sea turtles affected

In India mechanised bottom trawling that involves towing trawl nets along the sea floor is aimed at shrimps due to their economic importance.

"We need to look at other fish resources apart from shrimp, if fishing has to continue as an important source of livelihood," says Dr. Devadasan, Director of CIFT in Cochin. Besides the overexploitation of the target species, the process of shrimp trawling adversely affects the lives of sea turtles, and several other juvenile species of fishes. Studies conducted by CIFT and other fisheries organisations in India and the world over have seen that the shrimp trawl is a non-selective fishing gear.

The non-targeted species go by the name of `by-catch.' An estimated average of 27 million tonnes of by-catch is discarded annually by the world's marine fishing fleets.

In India, studies show that an estimated quantity of 1,30,000 tonnes of by-catch get discarded annually along the east coast of India.

Although some by-catch products such as catfish, snappers, eels, pomfrets and mackerel have their own lucrative markets the issue of by-catch poses a problem because they comprise mostly of juveniles and young ones. Trawl fisheries in different parts of the world are now required to use By-Catch Reduction Devices (BRD). These devices help exclude the non-targeted species.

Not enforced in India

Though BRDs are now mandatory in several countries, they are not enforced in India, except in the case of Turtle Excluder Devices. BRDs are of two types and are developed taking into consideration the differential behaviour pattern of shrimp and fish inside the net.

In India, CIFT has developed a BRD called Juvenile Fish Excluder Shrimp Sorting Device. This traps mature shrimpwhile allowing juvenile ones to escape.

Studies carried out by CIFT indicate their effectiveness in eliminating by-catch, especially juveniles and young fish, by about 20 per cent to 40 per cent depending on their type.

Mandatory equipment

The Indian Ministry of Agriculture has made Turtle Excluder Device (TED) mandatory equipment for all fishing vessels.

West Bengal, Orissa, Andhra Pradesh and Kerala have introduced TED regulations for trawlers. However the use of BRDs is yet to pick up.

Creation of awareness about the importance of conservation among fishermen and enforcing the use of BRDs, seem to be the way ahead.

VIDYA K.S.

In Visakhapatnam

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