Will Goans pose the same question in the near future?
From: [email protected] http://mobilepaper.timesofindia.com/mobile.aspx?article=yes&pageid=9§id=edid=&edlabel=TOIM&mydateHid=17-01-2010&pubname=Times+of+India+-+Mumbai&edname=&articleid=Ar00900&publabel=TOI *Wheres the fish on my plate * Overfishing & Pollution Responsible For Disappearance Of Marine Life From Citys Coastline *Simit Bhagat | TNN * Mumbai: Along the citys North West coast, local marine life is plummeting at an alarming rate and many species of fish are in danger of disappearing completely from Mumbais waters. Indiscriminate fishing by trawlers and pollution are taking a huge toll on fish like blackspotted croakers (Ghol), bronze croakers (Koth), threadfin (Dara), perch (Karkara) and the Indian pike conger (Wam). These are the findings of an ongoing research project by the Central Institute of Fisheries Education (CIFE). Dr Sushant Chakraborthy the principal scientist at CIFE said: The Indian coast is home to several varieties of fish species. Due to the excessive use of prawn trawlers, many other species of fishes including juveniles get trapped. Excessive competition sees a majority of fisherfolk willing to catch anything that comes their way, including immature fish. Fish are not given the chance to reproduce even once in their lifetime, and this affects future stock, said Dr Chakraborthy. The depleting catch has also affected fishing colonies like Arnala, Pachu bunder in Vasai , Uttan, Naigaon, Manori, Gorai, Madh, Versova, Khar Danda, Macchimar Nagar in Cuffe Parade and Sasoon Dock. The worst-affected are the traditional fisherfolk with small boats as the large trawlers take out a lot from the sea including mollusks, and juveniles. The large-scale destruction of mangroves is also believed to be one of the reasons for the decline in catch. Mangroves are the nursery grounds, where the larval growth and development takes place. So unless we protect their mangrove habitats, we would not be able to save newborns, said Deepak Apte, in-charge of the marine conservation programme of Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS). Even the Mumbaikars favourite fish, pomfret , is dwindling rapidly. A few years ago, the annual pomfret catch was 15,000 tons; this has been reduced to a mere 4,000 tons. These alarm bells cannot be ignored, say scientists who are of the opinion that the situation has to be dealt with on a larger scale. In Mumbai fishing during the monsoonbreeding season for marine lifeis banned. Said Dr Chakraborthy: There also has to be limit on the amount of fish that can be caught at a time. Such initiatives need to come from locals. * ON THE DANGER LIST * *BLACKSPOTTED CROAKER (Ghol) Latin name: Protonibea diacanthus It is believed to be a very good catch and can fetch up to Rs 6,000-8 ,000. It lives along coastal waters over muddy bottoms off the seabed, and grow up to the 1.5 m. It is found on the west coast of the Persian Gulf and along the coasts of India and Sri Lanka, Japan and Philippines, Borneo * *BRONZE CROAKER (Koth) Latin name: Otolithoides biauritus Found in coastal and inshore waters, it feeds on small fish and invertebrates. It is found on the coasts of India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Sumatra, Borneo and Vietnam. It can grow up to 1.75 metres and costs up to Rs 70 - 80 per kg * *THREADFIN (Dara) Latin name: Polynemus indicus they are almost golden olive in colour, and its fins are tinged with yellow. The fish is found mainly in estuaries and sometimes even in rivers. It can grow up to 1.4 metres * *Perch (Karkara) Latin name: Pomadasys hasta Also known as silver spotted grunt, it can grow up to 0.7 metres. It migrates typically between spawning and feeding areas. It was once a commonly found fish, but over the years the catch has dropped at an alarming rate * *Indian Pike Conger (Wam) Latin name: Congresox talabonoides It belongs to the family of marine eels found in tropical and subtropical seas. It is found in coastal waters and estuaries along the Indian coast. It can grow up to 2.5 metres *
