Jellyfish fisheries along the Gujarat coast, India: Status and challenges

Kumawat, Tarachand and Saravanan, Raju and Vinod, K and Jaiswar, A K and Deshmukhe, Geetanjali and Shenoy, Latha and Divu, D and Joshi, K K and Gopalakrishnan, A (2023) Jellyfish fisheries along the Gujarat coast, India: Status and challenges. Marine Policy, 150. pp. 1-10.

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    Abstract

    The study exemplified jellyfish fisheries along India's Northwest coast, constituted by two emerging Scyphozoan species, Catostylus perezi and Rhopilema hispidum, which swarmed in and around the Gulf of Kutch. Jellyfishing operations were small-scale and operated by motorised crafts, primarily using scoop nets. The fishing season fluctuated between March-May and October-December. The jellyfish landings from November 2017 to February 2020 were 13569.95 metric tonnes (82.1% C. perezi and 17.9% R. hispidum) of oral arms contributed by Jakhau (67.37%) and Okha (32.63%) jellyfish focal stations, making it a nascent small-scale commercial fishery, which indicates a shift in harvest from fish to jellyfish. In 2018, the estimated value of landed jellyfish (6538.4 metric tonnes) at first sale was ₹78.46 million ($1.14 million). The jellyfishing closures due to socio-sectoral conflicts and unsuitable weather conditions were considered for a 30.71% reduction in 2019. After processing using salt and alum, the semi-dried oral arms of C. perezi and R. hispidum were locally traded as salted-banana-jhar and salted-flower-jhar, respectively. The majority (65%) of processed jellyfish were exported to China, and the rest to other Asian countries from Mundra and Pipavav ports. The myriad challenges were discussed in the nascent jellyfish fisheries. A conceptual plan was advised for developing jellyfish research as a priority area in India that may help minimise knowledge gaps and support management actions. The study recommended jellyfish as future food and secondary raw material with better harvesting and processing practices. A co-management with a precautionary approach was suggested for the sustainability of jellyfish resources.

    Item Type: Article
    Subjects: Marine Environment > Jellyfish
    Invertebrates
    Marine Biodiversity
    Divisions: CMFRI-Veraval
    CMFRI-Kochi > Marine Biodiversity Division
    Subject Area > CMFRI > CMFRI-Kochi > Marine Biodiversity Division
    CMFRI-Kochi > Marine Biodiversity Division
    Subject Area > CMFRI-Kochi > Marine Biodiversity Division
    Depositing User: Arun Surendran
    Date Deposited: 27 Feb 2023 08:48
    Last Modified: 27 Feb 2023 08:48
    URI: http://eprints.cmfri.org.in/id/eprint/16780

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