The Status of Fisheries Science in India - Indudmg results of certain field developments, the results of application of innovations resulting from fisheries science work V. SRIRAMACHANDRA MURTY^ Focal Points at a Glance:The author, in this contribution, narrates how core fisheries science has lost its sheen and why, as implemented, it could be detrimental. He further brings out points in favour of streamlining of fisheries research in India through non­ overlap of research goals. An informative ivrite-up. "The student of fishery science according to the Dictionary also means fisheryregulations by which the fishery should have knowledge of what fish "any exclusively aquatic animal", not management authority controls the populations are- hoio they loax and merely a finfish) are influenced by fishing, present and future behaviour of wane in abundance - how one goes the variations in the characteristics of the interested parties in the fisheries, in order about determining their size and their aquatic environment (algal blooms, to ensure the continued productivity of reaction to exploitation - before he rainfall in the sea and on land, river the living resources". And, delves into the particular. This discharge, hydrographic conditions, approach is by analysis rather than productivity, production, floods, airrents, "Fishing" means "Any activity, other synthesis, in keeping loith the best upwelling and others) and tlie others like than scientific research conducted by a traditions of fishery science which has pollution/oil spill, oil prospecting, scientific research vessel, that involves the developed largely in the field, not in constructions, and others. catching, taking, or harvesting of fish; or the laboratory. A fish population - like any attempt to doso; or any activity that can a swarm of bees - is as much a According to FAO (1999), 'Fishery' reasonably be expected to result in the biological entity as the individuals means "1) Tlie sum (or range) of all fishing catching, taking, or harvesting of fish and that compose it. In beginning with activities on a given resource (e.g. a hake any operations at sea in support of it" populations one comes to realize the fishery or shrimp fishery). It may also refer (p.107) need for, and use of, much of the more to the activities of a single type or style of detailed material that follows. The fishing (e.g. beach seine fishery or trawl To understand the dynamics of age of fish for example is of great value fishery). The fishery can be artisanal, or/and exploited populations, 1-cnowledge of their in making accurate estimates of industrial, commercial, subsistence, and taxonomy and biology, the aquatic population size". (Rounsefell and recreational, and can be annual or seasonal." environment and the ecosystems is very Everhart, 1953:2) important. Besides, knowledge on fishing "2) Activity of catching fish, from one gear technology, the fishing effort, the 8. INTRODUCTION or more stocks of fish, that can be treated species wise and gear wise landing as a unit for purposes of conservation and statistics is also essential for studying management and that is identified on the According to the Chambers Twentieth population dynamics. Broadly, making an basis of geographic, scientific, technical, Century Dictionary (Geddie, 1968), the integrated study of all these component recreational, social or economic terra "Fishery" means the "business of subjects and then assessing the stock characteristics, and/or method of catch." catching fish". This business of catching sizes of each species to offer advice and fish ranges from a mere subsistence "Fishery management" according to a range of options to the government for activity to that of a gigantic industrial FAO means "The integrated process of taking informed decisions on activity with significant impact on social, information gathering, analysis, planning, development and management, economic, livelihood, environment, food decision-making, allocation of resources constitutes what is known as Fishery and other cognate areas. Fish stocks (Fish, and formulation and enforcement of Science. The Government of India, ‘This article is based on the author’s experience of working in the CMFRl, the published work, the websites of some ministries, departments in the central and state governments, and some data supplied by the Director, CMFRl, Kochi. The author is thankfid to Dr. A. Gopalakrishnan, Director CMFRl, Kochi for promptly supplying the data. The author is grateful to Dr P. Vedavysa Rao rmer ly Director of CMFRl Kochi, for review of the MS and for the comments. Though the objective is to deal with the status of Fishery Science in general terms, the article deals predominantly with marine fisheries examples, because of the experience of the author in marine fisheries research for nearly four decades; it is believed to make little difference any way. ^ Formerly, Head, Demersal Fisheries Division, Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute, Kochi. The view’s expressed by the author in this article are solely his personal and do not necessarily reflect the views of the organisations he seiyed or the Journal publishing this article. Postal Address: E-102, Shriram Sahana, Dodballapur Main Road, Stmjavmnsi Layout, Yelahanka, Bengahiru 560064) E-Mail: [email protected] ---------------------------------------- --------------------------------- ----- ------------------------------------------------------------ ----------------------- ---------- Ministry of Statistics and Programme fishery administrations (and also Science were not awarded, organised Implementation (Anon. 2011), adopted in the fishing industry) appreciate fisheries research was initiated only in 1947, the above definitions. how useful, indeed vital, is the real fisheries experts were not available in advice that can come from stock the country and, more than anything else Globally, fisheries have grown assessment studies, to the fisheries itself was not developed being just substantially over the past half century, decisions they have to take, then at a subsistence level and there was contributing significantly to fish food they will see that stock assessment littleappreciationforresearch support to security, national economy, livelihood studies are done. Theji^ will also see fisheries development. Nevertheless the security, employment generation and that they are done in an effective statement of Dr S. Jones(Jones, 1958, p. 1): several others. Fishery science also has and relevant way." (p. 1) "The need to take up research grown in the form of development of Looking at the way the Fishery Science as a responsibility of the Centre models, methodologies, simple methods has been treated and is being treated so that the fishing industry could to assess the stocks and computer now in India it is feared that this science be fostered and developed along software packages to process the data would never get its status amply modern lines was realised as and fit complicated equations. In spite of recognised in the country! This is the recently as during Second World such a growth during this period. Fishery situation, one feels forlorn to note, in spite War when the whole country Science is still largely not appreciated in of completing 67 years of organised suffered very acute shortage of India. This concern was earlier expressed fisheries R & D in the country. The most food" in a subtle mamier by the CMFRI in the throbbing thing is that even some of Vision 2020 (CMFRI, 1997) document by those responsible for fisheries policy Clearly reveals that fisheries research stating "There is also a lack of seem to be offering little or no recognition was initiated in this country to help increase appreciation of the value of research in to Fishery Science. The fact that a yield from the wild stocks. In the begiiming capture fisheries as the most important fisheries research institute established in the main thrust of research was biology tool in fisheries management, sustained the - year 1947, has an "Agricultural (growth, reproduction, food and feeding production and conservation (p. 30) and Economics Section" even in 2014, instead habits and length composition of catch). "There is a genuine feeling that Fisheries of a 'Fisheries Economics Section' speaks Subsequently, the research was directed Science, in contrast to Agriculture and about the recognition that the Fishery towards understanding population Animal Sciences, in the ARS system of Science enjoy s. Having completed nearly dynamics and managing exploited ICAR is stagnating..." (p. 32). A similar half a century of association with Indian resources.India today has experts in Fishery concern was expressed by the present Fisheries including nearly four decades Science capable of effectively addressing author by stating that "adequate of working in marine fisheries research, any R & D issue in tropical fisheries with attention was not paid to this area of and having seen, heard/listened to and authority and success, but sadly the subject research [capture fisheries] and also to spoken to several people - politicians, has still not received recognition as an those who were pursuing it. I would even bureaucrats, fisheries scientists, fisheries important science in the country. say that this area of science was looked administrators, fisheries managers, down upon." Moreover, "Though I fisheries research administrators, fish 111. MULT1MINISTER8AL JUR8SDICTI0M continued in capture fisheries and have business persons, international been putting