College of Fisheries, Mangaluru, has said that changes in climatic conditions, including higher sea surface temperature, have affected the quantity of popular fish species, including sardines and mackerels, while giving way for the heavy landings of trigger fish or Kargil fish that has meagre commercial value along the State’s coast.
Higher atmospheric temperature has also led to higher carbon dioxide concentration making water acidic with lower dissolved oxygen levels thereby affecting primary productivity in the coastal waters, said a study conducted by Mridula Rajesh, Assistant Professor, Department of Fisheries Resources and Management of the college.
Sharing the contents of the report, college dean A. Senthil Vel told The Hindu that conventional specifies are affected with non-availability of phytoplankton, zooplankton and other micro organism components.
The Odonus niger or Kargil fish is available in large quantities along the coast these days.
Once known for mackerel and sardine landings along with commercially important species such as pink perch, pomfrets, seer fish, lactarius and anchovies, fishermen have been getting loads of trigger fish or Odonus niger that is called Kargil fish. While trawl landing of Kargil fish was about 300-500 tonnes in 2008-2009, it rose substantially to 41,810 tonnes in 2018.
The species was largely observed in the coast from Kerala to Gujarat. The landings jumped to 2.69 lakh tonnes in 2018-19, Mr. Vel noted.
About 95 % of the total fish catch comprises Kargil fish and the situation is quite alarming. The fish commands meagre price: ₹ 12 to ₹ 22; it is not consumed by human beings and only used in fish-meal factories, he noted.
The red-toothed Kargil fish is normally found in the bottom region of the seas, occurring in enormous shoals and is caught in large quantities in trawl nets during the monsoon season as well as in other months. These fish were found in areas where there are rocks and at 40- 60 fathom depth. At present, it is found even in shallow regions.
The region is also experiencing high frequency of cyclonic conditions with higher intensity following climatic changes. Cyclonic condition increases sea water turbulence leading to increased suspended solids in the sea water column thereby affecting primary production. Hence, there could be a shift in the fish population and diversity.
(This story has not been edited by jkupdate staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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