The clam fishery of Ashtamudi Lake will be certified for a sustainable fishery practice shortly.
The certification will be issued by the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) for “covering sustainable fishing and seafood traceability for wild caught fish.” It is based on a code of conduct for responsible fishing, issued by the Food and Agriculture Organisation that the certification is issued.
The three-year-long process of certification was jointly implemented by the Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute, Kochi, local bodies of Kollam and WWF, an NGO.
The clam fishermen of Kollam had been practicing a self-imposed regulation in fishing for the past two decades by declaring a fishing holiday between December and February for the rejuvenation of the stock. The regulation was implemented as a management practice, said a marine fisheries expert.
CertificationThe restrictions were imposed in the early 90s when the clam stock plummeted. The stock had come down by more than 50 per cent from the 400 tonne caught annually during those days. They have also prescribed minimum legal size for the clam that can be exploited, which would ensure the sustainability of the resources, he said.
A short neck clam conservation council too was formed in the region for overseeing the management and conservation measures of the species.
The certification is expected to bring in value addition to the clam meat. The certification will be announced at a function to be held at Kochi on November 5.
