Fisheries Institution

Development of Marine in - Role of the Survey of India

he Fishery Survey of India The FSI seeks to meet the data coordinated by the Department of (FSI) surveys and assesses needs of the Indian marine Ocean Development. It holds 50 000 Tmarine fishery resources in industry for optimizing fishery electronic records; about 2 500 are India’s production, also for regulating added annually. Scientists take part (EEZ) to ensure optimum utilization resources conservation and in survey cruises to collect data and sustainable development of environmental protection. relating to fishery resources these resources. The FSI is a part of distribution and abundance in space Since its inception, the institute’s the Department of Animal and time. They also collect vessels have engaged in demersal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries biological information and data on (bottom) , mid-water in the Ministry of Agriculture. oceanographic parameters. trawling, purse seining, R & D in fisheries in India perhaps longlining and squid jigging. The The data collected are processed and began in 1946 with the present survey fleet focuses on published in the form of charts, establishment of the Deepsea deepsea and oceanic resources and atlases, bulletins, etc. from time to Fishing Station. It was meant to consists of 13 ocean-going vessels time, catering to a spectrum of data augment food supply through of 30.5 - 40.5 OAL equipped with users. development of deepsea fishing state-of-the-art equipment for Apart from publications, the FSI during the post-second World War. navigation, fish finding and disseminates findings through Beginning with just one vessel resources survey. workshops, seminars, open houses (a mine sweeper converted to a The FSI is a recognised Marine and exhibitions in different maritime trawler, S.T. Meena) and a few Data Centre under the National states to benefit fishermen, fishing staff, the FSI by 1982 had Ocean Information System boat operators, etc. 28 vessels of varying size operating from 12 bases. With the declaration of the 200 Dr V S Somvanshi became nautical mile EEZ during 1976, the Director-General of the started Fishery Survey of India in acquiring large vessels to survey August 1995, after 15 years of demersal, mid-water, pelagic and service with the FSI. He has oceanic resources in the EEZ. vast experience in marine In 1983, the FSI was reorganized fisheries research, particularly and upgraded as a national institute in fishery resources surveys with a new set of mandates. and assessment and fish Headquartered in , the FSI biology. He has edited two books, published more than has six zonal bases at Mumbai, 100 scientific papers, and Mormugao, Kochi, Chennai, visited several countries in Europe, Asia and Africa in the course of Visakhapatnam and Port Blair. professional assignments. It was recognized as a science & technology institute in 1988. Between 1997 and 2002, he served as Vice-Chairman of the Scientific Committee of the Tuna Commission. He has been a The institute’s sanctioned staff principal investigator on several national and international projects, has strength of 812 includes scientists, served on many R& D committees, and is a Ph.D research guide at several engineers, technicians and universities. administrative staff.

24 Bay of Bengal News - December 2006 – March 2007 Publications FSI’s Survey Fleet Data products Issues Built in Fishery Charts 4 Name of Base Vessel OAL GRT BHP Year Country Fishery Atlases 2 and Vessel Type (m) (t) Bulletins 28 Mumbai Occasional Papers 11 Yellow Fin Tuna 36.0 290 800 1989 Japan Special Publications 5 longliner Chartered Vessels Series 8 Matsya Monofilament 37.5 465 1100 2005 China Proceedings 6 Vrushti longliner Resources Information Matsya Stern trawler 40.5 329.26 2030 1978 Holland Series (Hindi, English, Nireekshani Marathi, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Konkani, Mormugao Kannada, Oriya) 77 Matsya Vishwa Stern trawler 36.5 327.18 825 1983 India Extension Series 1 Sagarika Stern trawler 28.8 189 650 1994 Japan Cochin Matsya Trawler-cum- 36.5 268.80 1160 1980 Denmark Varshini Purse-seiner Matsya Longliner-cum- 31.5 245.80 650 1980 Japan Sugundhi Squid jigger Lavanika Stern trawler 24.0 151 500 1995 1995 Chennai Matsya Monofilament 37.5 465 1100 2005 China Drushti longliner Samudrika Stern trawler 28.8 189 650 1994 India Some facts relating to the surveys: Visakha - Demersal resources have been patnam surveyed in all coastal sectors. Matsya Stern trawler 39.5 352 740 1979 Holland Stocks are under advanced levels Shikari of exploitation.The institute has Matsya Stern trawler 36.5 268.80 1160 1980 Denmark located a number of new fishery Darshini resources and fishing grounds of deepsea lobsters off the south Port Blair west coat, spear lobster Blue Marlin Tuna longliner 36.0 290 800 1989 Japan (Linuparus sommiosus) and deep sea lobsters (Puerulus sewelli) in Andaman waters. - FSI has been investigating FSI’s Charter of Work demersal stocks in the outer continental shelf. Intensive trawl 1. Survey and assessment of fish stocks and charting of fishing surveys are being used to cover grounds in the Indian EEZ and adjoining high seas. all the sectors. 2. Monitoring of fishery resources for fisheries regulation, - FSI has done a preliminary management and conservation. survey of neritic pelagic stocks 3. Assessment of suitability of deepsea fishing gear with special in some sections of the Indian reference to the concepts of maximum sustainable yield, coast by means of mid-water preservation of the environment and the marine ecology. trawling and purse-seining 4. Marine fisheries forecasting including application of remote - Trawl surveys are in progress for sensing in . obtaining a complete picture of several stocks of deepsea 5. Maintaining data on deepsea fishery resources and dissemination crustaceans and finfishes in of information to different user groups. different sectors of the 6. Human resources development through training of fishing continental slope. operatives and assistance to sister institutes in meeting their - FSI is doing tuna longline faculty requirements. surveys to generate scientific

Bay of Bengal News - December 2006 – March 2007 25 knowledge and a sound data base appear for certificate of FSI’s Institutional Linkages on distribution, availability, competency seasonality and migratory trends examinations. of larger pelagic stocks in the MOES INCOIS Training is imparted to Indian EEZ and adjoining high ICAR individual scientists in MPEDA seas. CMFRI fish , - Through two recently acquired taxonomy, fishing gear, NRSA monofilament longliners, fishery oceanography, CIFE Matsya Vrushti and Matsya etc. FSI is recognized Drushti, FSI is in the process of by Mumbai University SAC NBFGR popularizing the monofilament as a research centre for longlining technique. undertaking studies CIFT - FSI is currently surveying leading to M Sc (by IFP demersal resources in the deeper research) and Ph D NIO waters and continental slope and degrees. FSI bases have CICEF UNDP/ IMOP doing longline surveys for larger also won recognition CIFNET BOBP-IGO pelagic stocks in the EEZ around from universities in the IOTC the A&N islands. respective regions. - FSI has initiated studies on krill resources in the Indian Ocean sector of the southern ocean. Tasks ahead - To promote technologies and fishing gear which will not Short term vision further degrade the marine • Monitoring of demersal resources within 200m depth zone. ecosystem, FSI undertakes fishing with eco-friendly and • Survey of deepsea demersals beyond 200m depth. diversified fishing methods like • Survey of coastal pelagic resources. squid jigging, trap fishing, etc. • Survey of oceanic tuna resources. - FSI is building up a species • Survey of skipjack and yellowfin tuna by pole and line fishing in inventory of marine fishery Lakshadweep and Andaman & Nicobar Group of Islands. resources in the Indian EEZ so as to take measures for • Introduction of monofilament longlining for exploration and monitoring and conservation of exploitation of tuna resources. marine bio-diversity. • Fish stock identification and biodiversity studies using fish - The FSI has arrived at a figure of genetics. 3.92 million tonnes of fishery • Application of remote sensing in forecasting of marine fisheries. potential in the Indian EEZ by using different analytical and • Investigation of fishery resources in the high seas in the Indian production models suitable for Ocean and Southern Ocean. tropical fisheries. Variabilities of stock densities and biomass of Long-term vision important stocks are being assessed on a yearly basis. • Completion of exploratory surveys for all types of fishery - FSI has been associated with resources in the Indian EEZ. ISRO institutes in developing • technologies and innovations. techniques and in validating the • Monitoring surveys for fish stock health in the Indian EEZ and application of remote sensing in fishery strategies. marine fisheries. • Data bank maintenance and networking. Human Resource Development • Large marine ecosystems approach for conservation, The FSI provides practical on-board management of resources and preservation of environment. training to deepsea fishing operatives and fishermen of • Habitat management – assessment of risks to habitat. maritime states in different fishing • Environmental impact of fishing on protected species. methods. It also gives on-board sea- • and enhanced food security. service training to CIFNET trainees so that they become eligible to

26 Bay of Bengal News - December 2006 – March 2007 The FSI has vital linkages with several national agencies and Projects implemented by FSI institutions associated with ocean 1. ICAR-funded project on “Investigation on biology of perches in Quilon studies and fisheries development Bank, Wadge Bank and Gulf of Mannar”. The FSI is the nodal institute of the 2. GEF/IMO/UNDP-funded project on “Glo-ballast water port baseline Government of India for matters survey”. related to Indian Ocean Tuna 3. ICAR-funded project “To study the present status of the polynemid Commission (IOTC). Recently, for fishery along the Maharashtra-Gujarat coasts and to suggest a suitable the first time in India, FSI gear for their sustainable exploitation”. successfully conducted a tuna 4. Project funded by Ministry of Environment & Forests, New Delhi, on tagging programme in the “Investigation in Marine Fish Biodiversity in the Indian EEZ”. Lakshadweep Islands. FSI is also 5. Project funded by Space Application Centre (SAC), Ahmedabad, on represented in the Technical “Application of Remote Sensing and GIS for Marine Fisheries Resources Advisory Committee of the Management” BOBP-IGO. 6. Project funded by SAC, Ahmedabad on “Species-specific fishery fore- cast”. The Government of India’s 7. Project funded by INCOIS on “Development of Integrated Fishery Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) Forecast Model off the Visakhapatnam Coast”. on development of marine fisheries, 8. Project funded by IOTC on “Small -scale tuna tagging in Lakshadweep infrastructure and post-harvest Islands” operations, is being implemented through FSI: existing trawlers are converted for monofilament longlining. Likewise, under the CSS on strengthening of databases and information networking for the fisheries sector, FSI conducted a marine fisheries census in Lakshadweep and Andaman and Nicobar Islands and also conducted eight training sessions-cum- workshops on “Strengthening of data collection and fish taxonomy”. The FSI also acts as an interface between the Ministry and fishery departments of coastal states for catch assessment surveys in marine fisheries. The FSI maintains a database of Indian-owned fishing vessels permitted by the Government of The newly acquired fishing vessels of FSI (top & bottom) India to engage in deepsea fishing in the Indian EEZ. The FSI has played an important role in implementing inter-institutional and international projects. The FSI is a premier organization in surveying and assessing fish stocks in India. It has helped to popularize various modern , train operatives, apply remote sensing in marine fisheries, promote the Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries and eco- friendly fishing techniques. For more details, please visit the website http:// fsi.bom.nic.in

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