Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Mar 25: In a letter addressed to the union ministry of environment and wildlife conservation, the dean of the fisheries college here, Dr Senthil Vel, has urged the government to take steps to protect precious marine life, fishes etc that are on the verge of extinction on the rocks that have spread out all along the state's coastline right to the north of Lakshadweep island and have been breeding and regenerating there. He has urged the central government to protect these sea creatures from deep-sea fishing.

He has pointed out that all along the state coast of 220 km, the rocks deposited at the bottom of the sea have been named by the Sustainable Ocean Initiative as Bassas de Pedro, Cora Divh Sesostris Bank. These rocks are as high as 40 to 50 metres from the bottom of the sea. Several species like sharks, stingrays, starfish etc which live there are in the wildlife conservation list, the letter mentions.

Representative image

He stated that about a hundred fishing boats from neighbouring states follow illegal methods and use non-permitted nets when undertaking fishing here, and sell fish catches for as low as Rs 100 to 130 a kg. He said that the shellfishes are sold for Rs 50 to 100 per piece. He said that there is a need for the department to educate the fishermen about the varieties of fishes and the need to conserve them.

Dr Senthil Vel has urged the government to declare the line of boulders at the bottom of the sea as eco-sensitive zones and take strict measures to enforce the rules and take such other measures as may be necessary to protect the fish species.