MSC Pre-Assessment and scoping document of the 5 species caught 

List of participants involved in FIP implementation

Updated 2024 Workplan

FIP Action Plan Kerala shrimp and cephalopod trawl fishery

The Government of India organisation, Fishery Survey of India has published an Atlas of demersal fisheries grounds This covers major fishing ground of Indian coast and addresses the fishing ground of Squids and many bycatch species in the fishery - a first step towards mapping of major fishing grounds and towards developing a habitat management strategy.

The research organisation CMFRI has published a paper on priority list of species to be assessed (as tropical fishery comprises of many species) based on six criteria – data availability, commercial importance, conservation significance, cultural significance, ecological importance and life-history traits. The paper has identified 196 species/groups for regular assessment. 

The FIP conducted an annual stakeholder meeting on 28 August 2024 to initiate discussions in preparing a fishery management plan.

The research organization, CMFRI has conducted stock assessment of the target species.

The research organisation, CMFRI is collecting landing data of sharks from trawls. At Munambam landing centre, 10 juveniles of the shark species, Scoliodon spp was reported

FIP had a meeting in May with the director of fisheries, Government of Kerala to explain concerns and request goverment action 

A stakeholder consultation workshop was held to finalize the National Plan of Action for the Conservation and Management of Sharks in India (NPOA-Sharks). The plan aims to ensure the conservation and sustainable management of sharks in Indian maritime zones and includes measures to arrest the decline in shark biomass, improve monitoring and data collection, establish conservation measures, identify research needs, and create a holistic management framework based on the ecosystem approach to fisheries management.

The FIP provided a trawl boat in Kollam with square mesh cod-ends for a comparative study on bycatch using different mesh types. 

The state of Kerala has extended the ban on juvenile fishing of 58 species until 2028. 

CMFRI published a paper on the stock status of marine fishes in India, revealing that 91.1% of 135 assessed fish stocks are healthy, with 86.7% sustainable, 4.4% overfished, and 8.2% subject to overfishing. The study has found that  the stock of all target species are sustainable.  

The FIP has signed an MoU with CMFRI (the Research organization Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute) which is conducting stock assessments of target species and major secondary species.

The FIP in collaboration with SSNI (Sustainable Seafood Network of India) and other organizations organized two meetings for World Ocean Day 2023; the first meeting was a stakeholder workshop and the second meeting focused on fishery certification targets.

The Government of Kerala has made a public report available of infringements filed and fines imposed from April 2022- January 2023

Paper published on bycatch mitigation in Indian trawl fisheries through the use of converting bycatch into edible resources; the paper discusses the impact of bycatch mitigation efforts like the implementation of minimum legal size in reducing the juvenile component in bycatch

FIP held a meeting with the Director of Fisheries and Government of Kerala; regulation enforcement was discussed.

Letter has been sent by Seafood Exporters of India to the Secretary of Fisheries in an effort to collaborate on mapping coastal habitats. 

Training workshop conducted for 20 trawl boat owners that recieved government provided square mesh cod-ends. 

Update on incidential catch/ ETP interactions by gears such as MPS and MRS provided

National Plan of Action for sharks fisheries (dated 2015) was communicated to national DOF, MoFAHD, New Delhi by BOBP 

An alternate ecological risk assessment of species has been developed and published in the journal PlosOne. 

The FIP has  launched a model boat program -model boats launches from four major harbours of Kerala with square mesh cod-end, vessel tracking system and modern onboard processing.

Preparation of the FIP handbook underway 

Report on ecopath modeling system used to evaluate the ecosystem has been made available

Stock status and effort reduction for Kerala fisheries was obtained via the biomass dynamic model (Sathianandan et al., 2021). 

Fishing trials with square-mesh cod-ends (BRD) done  with 2 vessels (one control vessel) at Kollam Fishing Harbour

Zonal workshop conducted; training plan has been developed

Recent study on HCR been prepared for internal distribution among stock assessment scientists

FIP sent letters out in regard to a fishery enforcement handbook inquiry and observer status

A high-level planning meeting was held with all the stakeholders of FIP on progression in 2021

CMFRI has published data on landings of juvenile sharks 

A training video developed by scientists of CIFT on best practices for onboard handling of fish/shellfish

Scientists of CMFRI has prepared a Contingency Matrix of Resilience (R) and Vulnerability (V) scores for 133 species/stocks exploited in India

Landings data input had been factored into ecosystem model 

Paper published on stock assessment periodicity of the exploited marine fishery resources of India

Workshop held for enforcement officials that provided training in identification of protected spp

Stakeholders' workshops are being held - discussion of Y1Q2 action plan review and Y1Q3 action plan

Stakeholders' workshops are being held - discussion of Y1Q2 action plan review and Y1Q3 action plan

The Government of Karnataka has released an order on MLS of commercially important species which is in harmony with the Government of kerala regulations.

Stakeholders' workshops are being held - to discuss progress of Y1Q2 action plan.

Stakeholders' workshops are being held - discussion of Y1Q2 action plan

Stakeholders' workshops are being held - with identified key stakeholders from Karnataka

The Department of Fisheries (DoF), Government of Kerala (GoK), has issued a Government Order (GO) to support the use of square mesh cod-ends in Kerala. The objectives of the order are to reduce trawl bycatch and allow the escape of juvenile fish.

CMFRI published a paper on the stock status of marine fishes in India, revealing that 91.1% of 135 assessed fish stocks are healthy, with 86.7% sustainable, 4.4% overfished, and 8.2% subject to overfishing. The study has found that  the stock of all target species are sustainable. 

Increase to PI 2.3.2 & PI 2.3.3; there have only been 3 interactions with ETP species in the last 35 years. The fishery does not pose a risk to ETP species. 

Increase to PI 1.2.3; data collection methods have been updated and modified to better assess the biological stock 

The FIP has reported increase in PI 1.1.1. - It is found that all the species under FIP except Metapenaeus dobsoni have a B/Bmsy>1 and F/Fmsy<1 denoting healthy stock and sustainable fishing pressure.

Increase to PI 2.2.1; secondary species list has been updated and made available