from daijiworld's special correspondent

Panaji,  Jun 23: The scientists from Goa-based National Institute of Oceanography (NIO), a nationally-renowned ocean research institute, have expressed concern over the overexploitation of fisheries resources on Goan seas which will have its implication on state’s economy in future.

The NIO scientists have expressed urgent need to have more rational fisheries management and resource development in this state on the western coast. ``The state fisheries have several social and economic implications. Therefore, reducing fish stock to biologically and ecologically harmful levels will result in a loss of potential benefits such as food, income and employment in the long run,’’ scientists have said in their recently released research paper, ``Overexploitation of fishery resources with particular reference to Goa.’’

``Landings of major fisheries resource in the Indian ocean region have declined significantly and the Goan coast is no exception to it. In many cases, the rate of harvesting has exceeded the natural rate of renewal, resulting in biological over-fishing,’’ the paper by scientist Z A Ansari has mentioned. Co-authored by C T Achuthankutty and S G Dalal, both NIO researchers, the paper feared such overexploitation would lead to stock collapse or severe depletion.

``Fish production in Goa has significantly increased from 17,000 tonnes in 1963 to a maximum of 102 922 tonnes in 1993 due to mechanization. The analysis of data suggests that catches have exceeded maximum sustainable yield, resulting in negative growth in subsequent years,’’ it pointed out.

The scientists feel that the high demand coupled with the fact that too many people are dependent on these resources have led to overexploitation.

In the Indian context, about 73 per cent of the total marine fish catch of India comes from the west coast. ``Goa with a sea coast of about 105 km and a continental shelf of about 10 million hectares has an actively fished area of about 20,000 square kilometers. It is endowed with rich pelagic and demersal fisheries resources,’’ Ansari said.

The scientists feel that in the current years, the marine fisheries sector of Goa has attained the status of a capital incentive industry. It represents one of the examples of exploitation of natural resources.

``About 75 per cent of the marine fish production comes from the mechanized sector and 25 per cent from the traditional sector,’’ the paper reads.

The NIO scientists, quoting the official figures, stated that between 1963 and 1999, when the average annual marine fish production of India grew by 3.5 per cent, that of Goa grew by 6.02 per cent.

``The pronounced increase in the fish catch during late 1980s and early 1990s could be attributed to the mechanization and phenomenal increase in the numbr of fishing trawlers as well as advancement in gear technology,’’ they said.

The paper mentions that the last five years have seen stabilization of fish catch to about 65,000 tonnes. ``The marine fisheries of Goa are multi species fisheries wherein several commercially important species of fish and prawns constitute the pelagic and demersal fisheries resources. The prominent and most important groups are mackerel and oil sardine, which form bulk of pelagic catches,’’ it reads further.

The scientists say that most of the catch from the coastal fisheries is used for local consumption while varieties such as seerfish, ribbonfish, squids, cuttle fish and shrimps are targeted for the export market.

The detail study on the fishing vessels have revealed that adding more vessels to fishing activity has reduced the catch which sounds ironical. The paper says,``in the early 1960s, the vessels were very few and the catch was less. With an increase in vessels, a corresponding increase in the catch was recorded. But it was seen that as the number of vessels increased further, the catch started decreasing. There are reports of reduction of catch per unit effort and diminishing economic returns.’’

They feel that the negative growth in fish catch and lowering of catch per unit effort may be attributed to greater fishing pressure and overfishing of the stock.

The researchers have said that decreasing catch and mounting fishing expenditures force the vicious circle. ``As catch per vessel fall, profit plummets, and fishers overfish to maintain supplies causing serious depletion of stocks thus endangering long term availability. With falling returns, the asset value of vessels goes down, compelling owners to continue fishing at uneconomic rate of return, incurring losses and damaging the resource base.’’