The catch of baby sardines (‘kunjan mathi’) has been causing a massive financial loss in Kerala’s fisheries industry. Baby sardines are being caught in blatant violation of regulations at Kozhikode’s fishing ports. In recent days, over 100 loads of these baby sardines have been shipped from Chombala harbour to fish mills in Mangaluru and other locations, sold at low prices. Currently, a box of these sardines is priced between Rs 1,000 and Rs 1,400, but if allowed to reach full growth, the same box could have fetched up to Rs 10,000. Alongside sardines, baby mackerels are also being caught in large quantities.
According to the Indian Fisheries Act, regulations permit the catching of fish only after they reach a certain size: 10 cm for sardine and 14 cm for mackerel. However, many fishermen are catching these fish before they reach the sizes, violating the regulations. This practice threatens the future availability of these fish species, as both fishermen and boat owners are aware that such overfishing will lead to dwindling stocks. Despite knowing the long-term consequences, some continue to catch and sell these under-sized fish, driven by competition and the immediate financial gains.
Testing and enforcement remains insufficient
While the fisheries department and marine enforcement squad are working to address the issue of small fish catches, their efforts are falling short. The fisheries department currently has only two boats for inspection across five harbours in Kozhikode district, making comprehensive inspections impractical.
Deputy Director of Fisheries P. V. Satheesan reported that approximately Rs 15 lakhs in fines have been collected over the past three months for illegal small fish catches. Despite this, only a small fraction of these fish reach local markets for consumption. Most are sent to factories for use in fertilisers and other products. Baby sardines, for instance, are often found in local fish markets, with two kilos recently selling for Rs 50. Fishermen and traders do not benefit much from these catches, as sardines that are allowed to grow fetch a much higher price. A few months ago, sardine prices had soared to Rs 400.
Rs 25 lakh loss per load of baby sardines
A load of baby sardines sent to fertiliser factories yields between Rs 2.5 lakh and Rs 2.8 lakh. Each load consists of around 200 boxes, totaling approximately 14,000 kg of sardines, which are sold at an average price of Rs 20 per kg. In contrast, larger sardines can fetch between Rs 150 and Rs 200 per kg, potentially earning Rs 21 lakh to Rs 28 lakh per load. The loss from just one load of baby sardines is about Rs 25 lakh. If 100 loads are involved, the total loss amounts to Rs 25 crore. If these sardines were allowed to mature, they could have been sold in larger quantities, preventing losses.