Scientists from India’s ICAR‑CMFRI have just secured the country’s continued access to the U.S. seafood market. The institute’s detailed study of marine mammals across Indian waters proved that Indian fisheries are operating sustainably, meeting the U.S. Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) requirements.
The U.S. Bureau of Fisheries and Oceans (NMFS) announced that it now regards India’s fishing methods, vessel‑monitoring systems and licensing rules as equivalent to U.S. standards. That decision removes a major regulatory barrier that had threatened India’s multi‑billion‑dollar seafood trade.
CMFRI’s assessment covered 18 species, from blue whales and sperm whales to dolphins and porpoises. Using line‑transect surveys and data from more than 8,000 fishermen, researchers calculated the Potential Biological Removal (PBR) for each species—a figure that shows how many animals can be caught without harming long‑term populations. The results revealed that actual bycatch is far below the PBR limits, confirming that Indian fishing practices are within safe bounds.
This was the first time that India generated reliable abundance and bycatch estimates for its marine mammals. The study was carried out jointly with the Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA) and the Fishery Survey of India (FSI). Their data give U.S. regulators confidence that India has a robust framework to prevent accidental deaths of marine mammals.
Dr. Ratheesh Kumar Raveendran, the chief scientist of the project, said the research provided the backbone for India’s “Comparability Finding Analysis.” “It played a crucial role in safeguarding a multi‑billion‑dollar trade and averting a potential export ban,” he explained.
CMFRI plans to keep monitoring marine mammal stocks to ensure ongoing compliance with international trade rules and to support sustainable fishing practices throughout the Indian Exclusive Economic Zone.
Source: ianslive
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