Artificial reefs deployed by the Central Marine Fisheries Research Centre (CMFRI) for the first time in Andhra Pradesh at Mutyalammapalem coast have received encouraging response with marginal increase in catch.
“Initial analysis has shown positive response, we need to wait for the reefs to mature to get exact details,” CMFRI senior scientist and in-charge of Visakhapatnam Regional Centre Subhadeep Ghosh told The Hindu on Monday.
NTPC Simhadri Super Thermal Power Plant, under its corporate social responsibility, funded Rs.30 lakh for the project.
It is taken up as a joint venture by the district administration, the Department of Fisheries, and the CMFRI, as the nodal agency, to increase fish catch, thereby benefitting traditional fishermen.
“Our aim is to contribute to protection of the biodiversity in our vicinity,” NTPC Simhadri Group General Manager A.K. Samanta said.
CMFRI used two trawlers to deploy 210 modules — pre-fabricated at the fishing harbour, 70 each from well ring or sea horse, grouper and reef fish modules in March.
They are expected to mature in the next three months after which scuba divers will be engaged for a study. They were placed at 15 to 20 metres depth spread over 1,000 sq metres.
How they work
Artificial reefs make use of natural behaviour of fish to get attracted to floating or fixed objects for shelter, food, or breeding.
They are considered healthy objects for aquatic environment. It allows growth of various organisms like planktons, algae, and bacteria because of which small fish gets attracted. Big fish arrive in large groups in search of small fish. Sardines and mackerel feed on planktons and particular type of algae.
Artificial reefs, also known as fish aggregating devices, help fishermen get their catch close to the shore, thereby preventing them not to go for deep-sea fishing due to significant increase in fish biomass. They also prevent trawling in the area.
‘A proven experiment’
Artificial reefs have gained global recognition as a viable method to multiply the number of fish to help traditional fishermen.
Visakhapatnam Regional Centre of CMFRI is planning to take up artificial reef projects in association with the district administration and the Fisheries Department at Rajaihpeta and Pudimadaka in Visakhapatnam district and neighbouring Srikakulam coast.
Reefs have been deployed by the CMFRI and several NGOs in Tamil Nadu and Kerala. It has been experimented in Australia, Europe, Southeast Asia, Caribbean, Pacific Islands, North America, and Africa.
