After 12 years, large sardines are available on the Kerala coast, prices come down, due to climate change
After a while, large sardines have started to be available in Kerala. The availability of sardines has decreased on the Kerala coast in recent years due to climate change. Those in the fishing sector are giving indications that sardines are returning to the Kerala coast in the wake of heavy rains since May.
The price of sardines, which reached Rs 470 per kg 10 days ago, has come down to Rs 260 in the retail market. Those who go fishing in boats say that sardines up to 14 cm in size are available.
Sea temperature reaches 32 degrees, sardines leave the coast
The rising sea temperature is forcing the sardines to leave the Kerala coast. The sea surface temperature (SST) required for sardines is 27-28 degrees. But earlier the temperature had reached 32 degrees. Compared to previous years, the sea temperature is now lower off the Kerala coast.
Lack of phytoplankton and the crisis
One of the reasons is that phytoplankton, which is the food of sardines, disappears when the temperature rises. Plankton are communities of microorganisms and microscopic plants found in the deep sea.
This time, the summer rains have been active since April. With this, sardines have started to be attracted to the Kerala coast. Heavy rains were received in May as well. Even as July 10 approaches, the monsoon continues without any significant break. Along with the land, the sea also receives good rain.
Tamil Nadu sardines are also in demand
Earlier, large sardines used to come from Tamil Nadu. It is different in appearance and taste than the sardines available on the Kerala coast. Sardines were brought to North Kerala from Rameswaram, Cuddalore, Nagapattinam and Thoothukudi and traded. Sardines are exported to Kerala because there is less demand for them in Tamil Nadu. Kerala has a good demand for the fish that was used for fertilizer.
Kerala needs 9.25 lakh tonnes of sardines
Kerala requires nine and a half tonnes of fish annually. Of this, only 6.5 lakh tonnes of fish was available from the Kerala coast. For the remaining sardines, Malayalis depend on the coasts of Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and Goa.
