Latest news with #KeralaUniversityofFisheriesandOceanStudies
The Hindu
2 days ago
- Science
- The Hindu
Alappuzha coast home to 417 macrofaunal species, finds study
A comprehensive study undertaken along the Alappuzha coast has recorded 417 species of macrofauna. The research documented four species of cnidaria (jellyfish), 44 species of crustacea (brachyuran crabs, hermit crabs, shrimps, mantis shrimps and lobsters), 185 species of mollusca, seven species of echinodermata, 135 species of fishes, five species of reptiles (turtles and sea snakes), 30 species of birds (shore and sea birds), and seven species of mammals (whales and dolphins). The findings of the study, conducted by Arun C. R., research scholar at Department of Aquatic Biology and Fisheries, University of Kerala, and A. Biju Kumar, Vice-Chancellor of Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies, have been published in the Zoological Survey of India journal Records of the Zoological Survey of India. Seahorse species The macrofaunal diversity of Alappuzha is dominated by mollusca (44%), fishes (32%) and crustacea (11%). The study has identified three species of seahorses- Hippocampus spinosissimus, Hippocampus trimaculatus and Hippocampus kuda- which are included in Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act of India. The vulnerable Olive Ridley sea turtles nest on the beaches of the district, especially at Thottappally. Onboard surveys observed the critically endangered hawksbill sea turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata). The shell of a vulnerable leatherback turtle (Dermochelys coriacea) was found washed ashore during the survey. Among the mammals, the blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus), an endangered species, was identified from video footage provided by fishers, while a Bryde's whale (Balaenoptera brydei) was identified from a specimen washed ashore on the Azheekkal beach. The research also documented the traditional environmental knowledge (TEK) of the region's marine biodiversity. This knowledge highlights the insights of Alappuzha's coastal fishers regarding marine resources, ecosystems, and the impacts of climate change on biodiversity. The study notes that fishers observe peak fish populations, particularly among pelagic species, during the monsoon season (June to September). However, the abundance of shellfish (shrimps and crabs) and squids is notably higher from September to February. By fishers It also sheds light on fish identification practices used by fishers at sea. According to the study, small fish move in shoals, colloquially called 'Polappu' or 'Paadam' by fishermen. 'They identify shoal fish by their colour and behaviour. Shoals can be discerned by observing the water's surface. The size of the bubbles provides clues about the fish species present. For instance, a shoal with small bubbles typically indicates 'mathi' (oil sardines). Red colouration in the sea may suggest the presence of sardines, anchovies, or shrimps. If it is shrimp, they may leap over the water's surface. Black patches on the water may also indicate sardines. Species differentiation based on this knowledge may be scientifically explored in collaboration with fishers,' reads the study. The study titled Documentation of Macrofaunal Biodiversity of the Coastal Waters of Alappuzha District, Kerala, and Traditional Environmental Knowledge of Marine Fishers was conducted with the financial assistance of the University of Kerala. The study will soon be published as a coffee table book and a documentary on the marine life of Alappuzha is also in the making.
Time of India
7 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Plastic pellets from sunken ship mar Kovalam beaches
Thiruvananthapuram: Plastic pellets, known as nurdles, from the containers of the Liberian cargo vessel MSC ELSA 3, which sank off Thottappally in Alappuzha on May 25, have started accumulating on the beaches of Kovalam, where the land juts out into the sea. This has also triggered a kind of foam, and fishermen and stakeholders in the hospitality industry have raised concerns that the state govt has not taken measures to clear them and prevent them from coming to the beach. Plastic pellets and white foam have filled the famed Ashoka Beach over the past two days. As they are difficult to clear, the tonnes of pellets threaten to mar the experience of beachgoers at one of the famous tourism spots in the state. Robert Panipilla of Friends of Marine Life said the "Mukham Kodimana," a piece of land that juts into the sea near Kovalam, would capture most of the plastic pellets as the water current and wind flow is from north to west. He said the pellets were getting washed back into the sea and getting submerged in the sands, which will create trouble in the coming years. Kovalam, meanwhile, is now getting more visitors who want to enjoy the monsoon. "This will create a pollution problem in the coming years. It's unfortunate that the govt is not taking steps to clear the pellets," Panipilla said, adding that they could affect tourists if not prevented. There are environmental concerns as well, as these pellets are particularly hazardous to marine life. "The short-term environmental impacts include ingestion by marine animals as nurdles look like fish eggs and are easily consumed by fish, turtles and seabirds, leading to intestinal blockages and starvation. Nurdles can accumulate in sand and estuaries, suffocating benthic organisms and reducing biodiversity. The long-term impacts include toxic chemical absorption, and they absorb pollutants like PCBs, PAHs, and DDT from seawater, becoming toxic pellets. Over time, nurdles break into micro- and nano-plastics, entering food chains and human diets," marine biologist and Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies (Kufos) vice-chancellor A Biju Kumar said. The pellets were earlier reported to have been found in large numbers along Kochu Veli, Thumba and Vettukad. The vessel, carrying 640 containers, sank around 14.6 nautical miles off Thottappally, and 13 of these containers contained hazardous materials like calcium carbide and hydrazine-based plastics. The state govt earlier declared the shipwreck a state-specific disaster and initiated a comprehensive clean-up operation. An expert panel of specialists in marine science and environmental response was also convened to guide long-term efforts.
Time of India
28-05-2025
- General
- Time of India
No need to panic over fish safety after cargo vessel sank off Kochi coast: Experts
Kochi: Experts in the field of marine fisheries said there was no need to panic over the safety of consuming fish following a Liberian cargo vessel sinking off Kochi coast. V N Sanjeevan, professor chair at Centre of Excellence in Aquatic Resource Management and Conservation, Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies, said since it was a cargo ship and contained only 365 tonnes of oil and Coast Guard contained the spread of pollutants, there is no need to worry about consuming fish. "The panic over the safety of fish, created by newly founded media houses, is unfounded. We need to worry only when an oil tanker accident occurs and a major oil spill takes place since it carries over a lakh tonnes of oil. No such incident occurred here and the cargo vessel has only 365 tonnes of oil. The authorities contained the reported oil spill with the boom method and aerial spraying," he said. "The worry is that 13 containers that sank contain calcium carbonate, which is flammable when it comes in contact with water. Authorities are taking steps to retrieve these containers," he said.
Time of India
14-05-2025
- Science
- Time of India
Tiger shark population faces decline: Study
Kochi: Even as India urges researchers to identify and establish its biodiversity information, several species are either on the brink of extinction or entering the near-threatened categories. Recent studies by fisheries scientists of the Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies (Kufos) raised concerns about the dwindling populations of shark species in the Indian Ocean. The studies, which looked at the iconic tiger sharks ( Galeocerdo cuvier ), flagged concerns about global decline and called for shark conservation population of the tiger shark is in a state of global decline, with the species assessed as 'Near Threatened' on the IUCN Red List . Despite this, there is a lack of fundamental information required for regional management, such as those on life history and ecology."We looked at the population dynamics of G. cuvier in the Arabian Sea, which is one of the world's most important shark fishing regions. Length-frequency data of G. cuvier landed at Cochin over 16 months in 2023–2024 revealed the dominance of the 180–240cm length class, with the largest individual measuring 405cm long. Almost 95% of younger adults are caught and they are coming in as bycatch, contributing to 23% of the shark landings," said Rajeev Raghavan, aquatic biologist and faculty at the Kufos department of fisheries resource management.A total of 264 species of sharks and rays are known from the Western Indian Ocean (WIO), of which 43% are threatened. Some parts of the WIO are more significant for shark fisheries, such as the Arabian Sea, which harbours 15% of the described chondrichthyan species of the world, more than half of which are threatened. Close to 98% of the tiger sharks that landed at Cochin during the study period were the targets of commercial fishery using baited longline, while the remaining 2% were bycatch originating from gillnet and trawl fisheries."We need to bring in the tiger shark conservation zones. Unlike the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission, which looks at the entire tuna catches across the world, shark conservation does not have such a body. Some countries have banned tiger shark catches. Since it is not banned in India, our fishermen go to far-off deep-sea waters to catch them. The fact that they must go far to catch these species is an indication of dwindling numbers," Raghavan said.
The Hindu
30-04-2025
- General
- The Hindu
Breathing life into Vembanad lake
Vembanad, the longest lake in India and the largest in Kerala, is gasping for breath. The 96.5 km-long water body spans the districts of Alappuzha, Kottayam, and Ernakulam and forms part of the Vembanad-Kol wetland system, a Ramsar site. Six major rivers drain into the lake, which accounts for around 30% of the State's total surface water resource. Over the past century, the lake has shrunk significantly due to human-induced interventions, land reclamation, and natural sedimentation, according to experts. Though vital to the region's ecology and agriculture, it faces severe threats from pollution, eutrophication, unsustainable agricultural practices, and invasive weed proliferation. A few years ago, a study by the Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies revealed alarming levels of plastic waste, silt, and other sediments in the lake. According to a recent expert committee report prepared as part of the Vembanad Lake Rejuvenation Project, an ambitious joint effort of the Alappuzha district administration and the Local Self Government Department, the lake's surface area has shrunk mainly due to land encroachment. Citing previous studies, the report notes that the surface area of the lake diminished by 27% between 1917 and 1990. The drastic reduction in not only area, but also depth, has significantly reduced the lake's floodwater retention capacity and impaired its critical ecosystem services, including water purification, biodiversity support, and sediment transport. The unchecked proliferation of water hyacinths has further worsened the situation, contributing to dangerously high levels of chemical oxygen demand and biological oxygen demand. As a result, the fish catch has declined by about 66% over the last three decades. The efforts to rejuvenate the lake are being spearheaded by Alappuzha District Collector Alex Varghese. The initiative draws 'inspiration from the Namami Gange Programme'. It gained momentum on October 28, 2024 when a workshop was held focusing on addressing the challenges of restoring the water body. Eight subcommittees — agriculture, fisheries, water resources, tourism, biodiversity, environment and sanitation, disaster management and climate change, and revenue — were constituted. A ₹188.25 crore comprehensive five-year plan was formulated and recently submitted to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. The estimate may be revised based on the detailed study on water resources and irrigation projects being conducted by the Centre for Water Resources Development and Management. The short-term goals include the removal of plastic waste, construction of bio-shields to protect farmlands, fish ranching, weed eradication, and the construction of 31 bio bunds, each 1 km long in 31 grama panchayats. The long-term targets include dredging the lake bed to increase its water-holding capacity, promoting organic farming to prevent pollution from pesticides and chemicals, conserving the flora and fauna, establishing sewage and faecal sludge treatment plants in flood-prone Kuttanad, manufacturing value-added products from water hyacinth, and boosting tourism and fish yield. While the report is under the State government's consideration, 28.72 tonnes of plastic waste and a greater quantity of water hyacinth were removed from the lake in recent mega cleaning drives conducted under the aegis of the Alappuzha district administration. Rejuvenating the lake is critical for enhancing the region's resilience to climate change impacts such as erratic rainfall, sea-level rise, and intensified flooding events. However, it is easier said than done. For instance, houseboats are among the top sources of pollution in the lake. While the report calls for enacting strict laws against unauthorised vessels, previous efforts to rein in illegal houseboat operations have been largely ineffective. Another significant hurdle is land encroachment. The expert committee report notes that reclaiming encroached areas 'necessitates strong political support and decisive action.' Since Kuttanad is part of the Vembanad wetland ecosystem, the lake's restoration should be linked to the revival of the entire Kuttanad region. Coordinated collaboration among various stakeholders, including local communities, district administrations, and different levels of governance, will be key to overcoming these complex challenges and will require support from the Union and State governments.
