Juvenile fishing practice continues to be a major challenge to the states marine sector, according to a report by the Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI). The report presented at a stakeholder workshop at CMFRI in Kochi pointed out that 31% of the threadfin breams (Kilimeen) caught from theKeralacoast last year were juveniles — below the minimumlegalsize (MLS).
In a case study done in threadfin breams to analyze the impact of the MLS implementation on Keralas marine fisheries, the CMFRI has found that standing stock Biomass had gone up by 27% while the yield was up by 47% and there was a 64% increase in recruitment of this fish after the regulation was put in place.
A significant Percentage of sharks (82%), which are not covered by the MLS regulations, caught off the Kerala coast last year were below their size at first maturity.