Oil sardines witnessed a steep decline, from a record catch of four lakh tons in 2012 to only 3,500 tons in 2021 | Photo Credit: File Photos
According to a study by the ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries (CMFRI) Research Institute in 2024, the monsoon trends of precipitation caused a sudden increase in Indian sardines for juvenile oil sardines along Kerala.
A study published in contemporary science has emphasized how oceanographic changes controlled by climate form cycles of this vital fishing and underline the urgent need for dynamic models of fishing and harvest rules, according to the road.
Oil sardines have witnessed a steep decline, from a record catch of four Lakh tons in 2012 to only 3,500 tons in 2021. However, in 2024 the unusual influx of young sardines, a diameter of 10 cm, said along Kerala coast, with ports like Kozhikode.
The study of CMFRI integrated fishing and oceanographic data from Kochi, Vishinjam and Kozhikode. She stated that this phenomenon was caused by positive monsoon collision trends, associated with an increase in nutrient-rich, which increased the growth of microplankton-prime food source for larvae of sardines. This increase in microplankton increased the survival of larvae, which led to an unprecedented increase in recruitment, the study said.
Later, this condition also increased the competition of food sources between recruits, which led to poorly fed fish and lower weight for fish with zero class. The economic impact was felt in the massive crash of the Sardin market prizes and led to the suspension of fishing for juveniles, ”said U. Gang, the main scientist who led the study
Published – September 20, 2025 9:18
