Thiruvananthapuram: Fisheries sector stakeholders have called for united and combined efforts to control juvenile fishing of sharks and manta rays, listed among endangered species and whose annual catch has dipped alarmingly. At a meet of fishermen, traders, exporters and scientists organized by the Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute, long-line fishers committed to imposing a strict ban on juvenile fishing.
The meet was organized by the demersal fisheries Division of CMFRI as part of the preparation of the non-detriment finding document, essential for the trading of species listed in Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). Five sharks and two manta rays species are listed in Appendix II of CITES, according to the extent of the threat to its survival. “We are ready to stop juvenile fishing. Authorities should make fishermen aware of the importance of the ban”, said Mr Irshad K.A., a marine fin exporter in Kochi.
Shark
Dr A. Gopalakrishnan, director of the institute, said the catch of sharks and manta rays decreased in 2015; the catch of manta rays dropped from 40 tonne in 2012 to 5 tonne in 2015. Dr Shobha Kizhakudan, principal scientist of CMFRI, said “the decrease in sharks and rays is a matter of concern and effective management practices are needed for the sustainability. We need the support of the fishermen to fill up the existing data gap”. Dr P.U. Zacharia, head of the demersal fisheries division, Dr Rekha J. Nair, principal scientist of CMFRI, Mr. Madhivanan. A, assistant director of Wildlife Crime Control Board, and Dr. T.M. Najmudheen also spoke.
