Uncontrolled juvenile fishing in Ker has led to huge economic

The Kerala's fisheries sector has suffered a huge economic loss owing to uncontrolled juvenile fishing, according to the Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI).

Juvenile fish start as eggs which hatch into larvae. When they develop to a stage where they can feed themselves, the fish are called fry.

A CMFRI study report says the most caught juveniles last year were threadfin breams that caused a loss of Rs 221 crore to the fisheries sector.

The report was prepared as part of CMFRI's research project for developing fisheries management plan for the fisheries sector of Kerala.

Apart from the loss to the economy, juvenile fishing also badly affects the biological factors of the fish ecosystem, it said.

The unscientific practice leads to disruption in recruitment and spawning stock biomass of the fish, the report said.