Expert advises trial ban on sardine, mackerel fishing to sustain stocks

Panaji: A trial ban on commercial fishing of mackerel and sardines along Goa’s coast and the broader west coast is required to strengthen fish stock resilience, said Dr Shivakumar Haragi, assistant professor, department of marine biology, Karnatak University, Karwar.Speaking at the national conference on fisheries and aquaculture in Panaji, he said that mackerel and sardines are among the most commercially exploited species in the region. Importantly, both species begin their breeding cycle from April onwards, when they carry fully matured eggs, making them particularly vulnerable during this period.“If we initiate a trial-based ban period targeting only mackerel and sardine fishing for one breeding season, we can see the impact,” he said.In Goa, the annual fishing ban is imposed from June 1 to July 31. Haragi’s recommendation is to impose a trial ban on mackerel and sardine fishing from April to July.He, however, clarified that this does not extend to all marine fishing. He added that the current population trends for sardines and mackerel are not necessarily indicative of long-term depletion, rather, they show annual fluctuations. “A good year today does not guarantee similar yields tomorrow,” he said, pointing out that fishing often exceeds the maximum sustainable yield (MSY), leading to stock instability.

The one-season pilot is intended to offer scientific insight into how protected spawning periods influence overall stock levels, provide data for future fisheries policy framing, and support small and traditional fishermen by ensuring long-term stock sustainability.Goa’s fish production peaked at 140.3 tonnes in 2022-23, marking the highest output in 8 years, before dropping to 135.7 tonnes in 2023-24, according to data released by the Union ministry of statistics and programme implementation in the ‘EnviStats India 2025: Environment Statistics’ report.