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Steps to reduce the incidence of juveniles and illegal fishing
(a) Development of fishing gears with optimized bycatch reduction
technologies
Generation of bycatch, which affects the ecosystem either directly or indirectly
at different trophic levels, is a serious issue in commercial fishing around the world
(McCauley et al. 2015). Trawl nets, due to their low selectivity and high efficiency,
are often implicated with generation of large quantities of bycatch (Boopendranath
et al. 2008). Pramod (2010) estimated the bycatch discards from mechanised trawlers operating in Indian EEZ at 1.2 million tonnes. The same study estimated 56.3%
of the total catch of shrimp trawlers as bycatch. Use of Bycatch Reduction Devices
(BRD), based on the fishing operation, is the most often used method to reduce the
incidence of bycatch. Square mesh codends, Sieve Net BRD, Fish Eye BRD,
JFESSD etc. are some of the bycatch reduction devices that were field tested along
the Indian coast (Boopendranth et al. 2008). States like Gujarat, Maharashtra and
Kerala have stipulated the use of square mesh codends in trawlnets, inorder to
reduce the incidence of juvenile catches (Mohamed et al. 2009).
Species like Turtles which are already at risk due to the impact of climate induced
changes often form a bycatch in different gear systems like trawls and longlines.
Use of Turtle Excluder Devices (TEDs) that help release turtles getting in the way
of trawlnets and Circle hooks that reduce the incidence of deep hooking that leads
to mortality were optimized by ICAR-CIFT for the Indian fisheries.
(b) Use of modified gears and technology for reducing impacts
Use of fishing gears, that have lower negative impacts to the ecosystems, have to
be promoted. In general, passive gears like traps, gillnets and longlines, are found to
have lower impact compared to the active gears like trawls. Use of modified trawls
like the Semi-pelagic trawls (Fig. 6), which are found to be more selective, energy
efficient and eco-friendly need to be encouraged.
Steps to improve the safety of the fishing vessels
(a) The incidence of extreme events is reported to have increased in the recent
years and these would emerge more frequently as a result of climate related
changes. The fishing vessels have to equip themselves, to withstand such
severe oceanic conditions. Proper education and training for the fishers is
essential to tide over such situations. Use of navigational, communication
and lifesaving appliances have to be made mandatory in all classes of fishing
vessels.
(b) Installation of monitoring systems like Automatic Identification System
(AIS) and other tracking systems should be made mandatory on-board fishing vessels.
(c) Basic training followed by certification of the crew in all classes of fishing
vessels, on aspects related to sea safety and responsible fishing should be
made mandatory.
Adaptation to Climate Change: A Fishery Technology Perspective
Steps to reduce the incidence of juveniles and illegal fishing
(a) Development of fishing gears with optimized bycatch reduction
technologies
Generation of bycatch, which affects the ecosystem either directly or indirectly
at different trophic levels, is a serious issue in commercial fishing around the world
(McCauley et al. 2015). Trawl nets, due to their low selectivity and high efficiency,
are often implicated with generation of large quantities of bycatch (Boopendranath
et al. 2008). Pramod (2010) estimated the bycatch discards from mechanised trawlers operating in Indian EEZ at 1.2 million tonnes. The same study estimated 56.3%
of the total catch of shrimp trawlers as bycatch. Use of Bycatch Reduction Devices
(BRD), based on the fishing operation, is the most often used method to reduce the
incidence of bycatch. Square mesh codends, Sieve Net BRD, Fish Eye BRD,
JFESSD etc. are some of the bycatch reduction devices that were field tested along
the Indian coast (Boopendranth et al. 2008). States like Gujarat, Maharashtra and
Kerala have stipulated the use of square mesh codends in trawlnets, inorder to
reduce the incidence of juvenile catches (Mohamed et al. 2009).
Species like Turtles which are already at risk due to the impact of climate induced
changes often form a bycatch in different gear systems like trawls and longlines.
Use of Turtle Excluder Devices (TEDs) that help release turtles getting in the way
of trawlnets and Circle hooks that reduce the incidence of deep hooking that leads
to mortality were optimized by ICAR-CIFT for the Indian fisheries.
(b) Use of modified gears and technology for reducing impacts
Use of fishing gears, that have lower negative impacts to the ecosystems, have to
be promoted. In general, passive gears like traps, gillnets and longlines, are found to
have lower impact compared to the active gears like trawls. Use of modified trawls
like the Semi-pelagic trawls (Fig. 6), which are found to be more selective, energy
efficient and eco-friendly need to be encouraged.
Steps to improve the safety of the fishing vessels
(a) The incidence of extreme events is reported to have increased in the recent
years and these would emerge more frequently as a result of climate related
changes. The fishing vessels have to equip themselves, to withstand such
severe oceanic conditions. Proper education and training for the fishers is
essential to tide over such situations. Use of navigational, communication
and lifesaving appliances have to be made mandatory in all classes of fishing
vessels.
(b) Installation of monitoring systems like Automatic Identification System
(AIS) and other tracking systems should be made mandatory on-board fishing vessels.
(c) Basic training followed by certification of the crew in all classes of fishing
vessels, on aspects related to sea safety and responsible fishing should be
made mandatory.
Adaptation to Climate Change: A Fishery Technology Perspective