Kochi, Oct. 15 -- Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) has cautioned fishers against catching juvenile Indian Oil Sardines and urged them to strictly adhere to the Minimum Legal Size (MLS) of 10 cm, following a significant resurgence of young sardines along the Kerala coast.
CMFRI warned that harvesting undersized fish could endanger the long-term sustainability of the sardine fishery and threaten the livelihood and food security of coastal communities.
A recent CMFRI study revealed that sardine recruitment during 2024 has reached the highest level since 2020, aided by favourable monsoon conditions and the upwelling of nutrient-rich waters that boosted microplankton growth, drawing large numbers of young sardines to nearsho...