Staff Reporter
Panaji
A deep-sea fishing expedition conducted by the Fisheries Survey of India (FSI) has revealed several highly productive, potentially untouched fishing grounds in the Arabian Sea.
The expedition, which covered a vast area from Kollam in Kerala to Goa, discovered the fishing grounds located approximately 100-120 nautical miles off the country’s western coast, boasting of an impressive average catch per unit effort (CPUE) of
150-300 kg/hr.
The area is rich in a variety of commercially valuable crustaceans, including Humpback nylon shrimp, Arabian red shrimp, Deep sea mud shrimp, Deepwater spiny lobster and Deep sea squat lobster. Cephalopod resources like Opisthoteuthissp and Octopoteuthissicula are
also abundant.
The new grounds support a diverse fish population, encompassing species such as Froghead eel, Rosy cod, Sackfish, Snake mackerel, Royal escolar, Myctiophids, Bandfishes, Duckbill flathead, Splendid alfonsino, Shadow driftfish, Spinyjawgreeneye, Shortfinneoscopelid and Stargazers.
Elasmobranchs, including Sicklefin chimaera, Pygmy ribbontailcatshark, Bramble shark, Indian swellshark and Travancore skate are also present in good numbers.
Interestingly, the survey found no significant difference in catch or species diversity between day and night fishing.
The FSI, under the Union Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, conducted the survey aboard a deep-sea trawler, operating day and night at depths between 300 and 540 metres.
This discovery, funded by the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) scheme, marks a significant step towards expanding India’s fishing industry and ensuring future food security.
Director General of FSI Dr Sreenath K R said this significant finding demonstrates the dedication of FSI to investigate untapped deep-sea fishery resources.
“Our research will enhance scientific understanding to ensure the sustainability of marine ecosystems and strengthen India’s fishing industry, contributing to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of doubling fishermen’s income,” he said.
Zonal director of FSI’s Mormugao base Dr S Ramachandran emphasised the importance of this discovery in the face of increasing pressure on coastal fisheries.
“Coastal fishery resources face growing pressure from overfishing, habitat degradation and climate change. Deep-sea resources emerge as a critical alternative for sustaining fisheries and ensuring food security in the nation,” he said.
The FSI’s team of scientists, including Dr Nashad M, Shiva A, Ashik P, Venkatesh Saroj and Chief Engineer Joseph Ignatious, along with the Goa base team of Dr H D Pradeep, Dr M K Sinha and Raju S Nagpure, was instrumental in the success of the expedition.
The reconnaissance of deep-sea fishery resources will continue its exploratory surveys to further assess the potential of these deep-sea ecosystems. Future research will focus on evaluating fish populations, understanding the complex marine environment and developing sustainable management strategies for these newly discovered fishing grounds.
