Fisherfolk Shift Gear to Make 'Mathi' Catch Sustainable
KOCHI: ‘Mathi’ or ‘Chala’ (oil sardines) from Kerala, considered as common man’s fish, is likely to be certified as sustainable by the end of next year. Fisherfolk from Pallithottam to Thankassery have been asked to use CIFT-specified craft and gear to make the Fishery Improvement Plan (FIP) for the species in the Kerala coast a success.
Oil sardines, which dominated the marine capture landings in 2012, saw a reduction of about 1.2 lakh tonnes last year. The FIP, if implemented successfully, could bring about a positive change.
Sardines have potential to be premium-priced fish in Europe once they are certified sustainable by UK-based Marine Stewardship Council. Clams of Ashtamudi lake were recently attested by MSC, the first fishery in India to qualify for certification.
The FIP for sardines is being implemented in association with WWF India, the Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) and Central Institute of Fisheries Technology.
“Once certified by MSC, Kerala sardines will get premium price in European markets,” said a scientist associated with the project.
The FIP for sardines has ecological importance too as MSC certification is given for sustainable fishing practices. “On the monetary side, fish captured through sustainable practice get premium price in Europe. Supermarkets in Europe have separate counters for MSC-certified fish. Menu cards of some hotels specify whether they have sustainable certification or not. The process is expected to be completed by December 2015,” said Vinod Malayilethu, senior coordinator, WWF Marine Conservation Programme. The Fishermen Welfare Society amended its bylaw to include the craft and gear specifications suggested by CIFT as part of making sardine fishery sustainable, he said.
Kerala Boat Owners’ Association general secretary Joseph Xavier Kalappurakkal said export of good quality sardine (weighing 150 gm or more) from Kerala is valued around `40 crore annually. “If there is a certification as per the European standards, the price may be two or three fold,” he said.
But there should be measures to ensure that the fishermen get the benefit of the premium price they fetch in international market’’ he said.
The FIP, according to Vinod, will help increase scores against the relevant performance indicators and apply for full assessment in the future. “This road map can also be used as a model for getting other fishery resources certified,” Vinod said.
The inclusion of CIFT-specified craft and gear in the Kerala Marine Fisheries Regulation Act would prove beneficial for fishery resources in the state, he said.