Widenose Gitarfish (Glaucosegus obtus), a protected species, randomly caught in a gillnet that was released back into the sea fishermen after sensitization scientists from Cmfri in Karwar. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
Scientists from Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) have seen two cases of randomly capturing widenose guitar (Glaucosgus obtus), protected species, during routine visits to fishing centers. Rare species were subsequently released back into the sea.
Widenose Gitarfish is a species that is now protected according to the Annex and the Indian Act on Wild Game (protection) after its inclusion in the amendment 2022 as a result of a significant decline in its population.
According to the release of CMFRI, these incidents emphasize ongoing challenges while maintaining this vulnerable species and the key role of awareness between coastal fishing communities.
According to Cmfri, the first incident occurred on 18 September at Majali Fish Landing Center, where Mahesh V., a scientist of agricultural research services at the Karwar Regional Station in ICar-Cmfri, observed a random capture of two expanding guitar fish in Gillnet Fish Landing.
Both specimens were alive when they brought to the shore. Both were ripe females, one measuring 60 cm and the other, 78 cm in length.
The local fishing position, which they do not realize, intended to sell them on the local market.
Dr. Malesh and Nagaraj M. Durgekar, CMFRI support staff, took the opportunity to educate the fishing community.
They emphasized the importance of relaxing these species back into the sea, discouraged their sale and convinced Fisher women to safely release them back into the sea.
On Friday, another guitar guitar on Widenose was unintentionally caught in Gillnet at Aligadda Fish Landing Center in Karwar.
After the incident was immediately reported to the CMFRI office, Dr. Mahesh and his team helped fishermen to release a live specimen, a mature woman measuring 107 cm in length back into the sea. The largest sample of this kind so far measured 114 cm and was found off the GOA coast.
According to Dr. Malesha was reported last year similar incidents. He said that CMFRI’s awareness campaign is a positive reaction between the fishing community.
Originally, 10 Elasmobranchii species were listed within the Plan and the Wild Game Act (protection) from 1972. In 2022 nine other species were added, including bowmouth guitarins, guitar fish Clubose, Whiant -Whitar -Whatar and Dwarfy.
These species are now fully protected from the drive, landing or trade along the Indian coast. Widenose guitar fish, a small coastal elashmobranchia, usually inhabits shallow waters and ecosystems of Usti, which is particularly prone to accidental capture in Gilnets, one -day towing operation, suspension and coastal sein networks, edition said.
Cmfri referred to the fishing community to report such a random capture to the nearest forest department or the state department of fishing.
Dr. Malesh explained that under no circumstances these specimens should not be sold, even if they are found dead.
Published – 26 September 2025 20:22 IS IS
