A marine fish that was largely seen as a discard by the State’s fisheries sector till two months ago is now a prize catch, bringing handsome profits to the mechanised fishing sector here.
The 6-cm-long lanternfish used to be considered a nuisance that got entangled in nets during shrimp trawling. It was either dumped back into the sea or sold as cattle feed for a pittance.
Omega-3 fatty acid
Now, the fish is in high demand following a discovery that it is a rich source of Omega-3 fatty acid. It was a fluke discovery by Karnataka-based fish mills, which, facing shortage of the usual fish oil sources, tested the fish two months ago. Peter Mathias, secretary of the Kollam Mechanised Fishing Boat Operators Association, says that presently about 50 to 60 tonnes of laternfish catch land at the Shakthikulangara fishing harbour here daily, and are sold at Rs.16 a kg.
This translates to a clean profit of more than Rs.50,000 a boat on each fishing trip.
January to May is normally dull for the fisheries sector. But this year, the lanternfish has come as manna from the deep for the sector, he says.
More than 50 per cent of the Kollam-based mechanised boats are engaged in lanternfish harvest. Within the State, it is being traded only at the Shakthikulangara harbour. These fish live in the mesopelagic zone at depths between 500 to 1,000 metres. Special nets have been designed to catch the fish. The boats return after five days in the sea.
Worries over report
Mr. Mathias says the fishing sector is worried about losing the resource to foreign powers if the recommendations of the Meenakumari committee are implemented. The report recommends granting permit to foreign trawlers to exploit waters beyond the depth of 500 metres in the country’s exclusive economic zone.
The recommendation has been made on grounds that Indian fishermen do not have the expertise to fish at depths beyond 500 metres. “But the lanternfish landings here prove that Kollam fishermen have the expertise,” Mr. Mathias adds.
