KOCHI: Faced with a deteriorating traditional marine wealth, the fishing community in the state has been looking for government intervention to tap the potential of oceanic squid, a high-value species of squid.Fishermen are of the opinion that the crisis in the local fishing industry can be solved to a certain extent, if the resource of oceanic squid is tapped effectively. According to All-Kerala Boat Operators’ Association (AKBOA) secretary Joseph Kalappurakkal, neither Kerala nor any of the states in the country has effectively utilised this resource. “It has been identified that we have a resource of oceanic squid coming to around 20 lakh tonnes in the Indian Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). Unfortunately, we do not have the technology to tap this resource. At the same time, many vessels from China, Taiwan, Pakistan and Australia are exploiting it in the Arabian Sea. Fishermen in Kerala occasionally net around 200 or 300 tonnes of oceanic squid, he said. Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies (KUFOS) Vice-Chancellor and a fisheries expert B Madhusoodana Kurup said that no technology has been developed in the state to fully tap the resource of oceanic squid. “Koreans and Japanese are the experts in catching squid. Special squid jigs are needed for catching oceanic squids,” Kurup said.Joseph Xavier said that the AKBOA was thinking of equipping boats with apparatus required for catching oceanic squid. But the state and the Central governments should take the initiative for importing squid jigs from Korea. A jigging machine would cost `4 lakh. Governments’ assistance is essential to exploit the oceanic squid resources,” he said.
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