Vadakara: Kerala’s fisheries industry is suffering massive financial losses due to the illegal fishing of baby sardines (‘kunjan mathi’) in Kozhikode’s fishing ports. Despite regulations set by the Indian Fisheries Act, which mandates that sardines must be at least 10 cm and mackerels at least 14 cm in size before being caught, fishermen continue to harvest these under-sized fish. This unsustainable practice is having a devastating effect on the future of Kerala’s sardine and mackerel stocks.
In recent days, over 100 loads of baby sardines have been shipped from Chombala harbour to fish mills in Mangaluru and other locations at significantly low prices. A box of these baby sardines, currently priced between Rs 1,000 and Rs 1,400, could have fetched up to Rs 10,000 had the fish been allowed to mature. Fishermen and boat owners are aware that overfishing is depleting these vital stocks, yet competition and the lure of short-term gains keep driving them to engage in this illegal activity.
Efforts by the fisheries department and the marine enforcement squad to curb this practice have been insufficient. With only two inspection boats for five harbours in Kozhikode district, enforcement remains weak. Despite fines of Rs 15 lakh collected over the past three months, most of these baby sardines are being sent to factories for use in fertilizers and other products, with little benefit to the fishermen or local markets.
Financially, the loss is staggering. A single load of baby sardines sold to fertilizer factories yields around Rs 2.5 lakh, whereas allowing the fish to grow could bring in Rs 21 lakh to Rs 28 lakh per load. This amounts to a daily loss of Rs 25 lakh per load, with total losses reaching Rs 25 crore for 100 loads.
