Kochi: The declining trend in the catch of sardine, the favourite and common fish species of the state continued in 2016 with the landings showing a decline of 32.8 per cent compared to 2015.
According to the data released by CMFRI on Friday the total sardine catch from Kerala coast during the year was 46,000 tonne, the lowest in the past two decades.
For the first time in history, the catch of sardine slipped down to the third spot behind scads and mackerel, said a CMFRI statement. In 2012, the catch of sardine in Kerala was 3.9 lakh tonnes. After this, the availability of the fish is decreasing each year in Kerala waters. Indicating the crisis in the fisheries sector of the state, the catch of mackerel also dropped by 33 per cent in the state compared to 2015.
Mackerel recorded 47,000 tonnes this time. Scads (Decapterus), belonging to carangids category, placed at the first spot in the state, registering a catch of 54,000 tonne. Over fishing and impact of climate change are the main reasons for the fall in catch. CMFRI director A. Gopalakrishan expressed the hope that the catch of sardines is likely to show an increase in 2017 according to indications available now. Although the state was pushed to fourth position, Kerala registered an 8 per cent rise in its total marine fish catch over previous year producing 5.23 lakh tonnes behind Gujarat (7.74 lakhs tonnes), Tamil Nadu (7.07 lakh tonnes) and Karnataka (5.29 lakh tonnes).
