Kozhikode: With young sardines now appearing in large numbers along the Kerala coast, the Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) has urged fishermen to strictly avoid catching sardines smaller than 10 centimetres, which is the legally permissible minimum size for harvesting.

A CMFRI study found that favourable rainfall has made the sea surface more productive, resulting in the abundant availability of sardines along the Kerala coast. However, the study also revealed that the spike in sardine numbers has led to a gradual decline in food availability, which in turn is affecting their growth.

CMFRI Director Dr Grinson George clarified that the findings regarding sardine growth had been misinterpreted by some and stressed that claims suggesting the fish will not grow any further are incorrect.

As the coastal waters remain highly productive, small sardines are still found in abundance. CMFRI emphasised the need for regulated fishing practices in line with existing laws to ensure sustainable utilisation of the resource. Researchers noted that sardine availability and growth are closely linked to environmental changes, and that sustainable fishing is essential to prevent a potential collapse in their population.

“Catching very small sardines will adversely affect their breeding and future availability,” warned CMFRI Principal Scientist Dr U. Ganga, underlining the importance of protecting juvenile fish to support long-term stocks.

Officials added that in some areas, fishermen have already begun avoiding zones where small fish are present and are using nets with larger mesh sizes, a practice they said should be encouraged and widely adopted to safeguard marine biodiversity and ensure the sustainability of sardine fisheries.