National

Kochi: Kerala Fisheries Minister Saji Cherian announced the state government’s commitment to fully support young individuals from the fishermen’s community in pursuing higher education abroad. Emphasizing a shift from the traditional notion that fishermen’s children follow in their parents’ footsteps, Minister Cherian stated that the government aims to provide them with the best education opportunities.

The minister made these remarks at the inauguration of a day-long seminar on fisheries resources and sustainability, organized by the Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies (KUFOS) and the Coastal Area Development Association for Liberation in Kochi.

Addressing concerns over potential corporatization of the sea, Minister Cherian called upon stakeholders to resist and defeat any attempts to exploit the rights over the sea and its associated resources by corporations. He highlighted the risk of such rights falling into the hands of large companies, emphasizing that fishermen, as traditional owners of sea resources, currently find themselves at the lower rungs of the social and economic ladder.

KUFOS Vice-Chancellor T. Pradeep Kumar, presiding over the inaugural session, emphasized the need for Kerala to more than double its fish production to meet the United Nations-set fish consumption target of 20 kg per person per year. He identified aquaculture as a sector with significant potential for growth in Kerala.

The chief guest at the event, Alappuzha Bishop James Anamparambil, joined the call to support the fishing community, echoing Minister Cherian’s concerns about potential corporatization. Former Fisheries Minister K. Babu, officials from KUFOS, and key figures from the fisheries industry, including the director of the Central Institute of Fisheries Technology (CIFT) George Ninan and Matsyafed chairman V. Dinakara, were present at the seminar.

The workshop, featuring various sessions on marine fisheries, ecological conditions of the sea, aquaculture development, post-harvest processing and marketing, inland fisheries, and social development of coastal areas, aimed to address the comprehensive aspects of the fisheries sector in Kerala.

Renowned fish scientist Dr. Praveenraj Jayasimhan has identified a previously unknown species of Badis fish, naming it ‘Badis limaakumi’ in honor of his collaborator, Dr. Limaakum, from Nagaland. The discovery was made when Dr. Jayasimhan received photographs of a striking and sizable Badis species from Dr. Limaakum in November 2020.

Due to the remarkable color-changing behavior of the fish, Dr. Jayasimhan requested live photos to capture its original hues accurately. After receiving a suitable set of specimens and photographs in 2021, he began examining the species. This unique fish displayed distinctive characteristics, notably a dark black blotch on its gills, resembling the Badis assamensis found in Assam. However, it lacked the series of blotches on the body typically seen in the latter species.

In recognition of Dr. Limaakum’s significant contribution to the discovery, Dr. Jayasimhan chose to name the new species ‘Badis limaakumi.’ Dr. Limaakum had also played a pivotal role in uncovering two other new species in Nagaland the previous year.

In an interview with EastMojo, Dr. Limaakum expressed his initial intention to name the fish ‘Badis milaki’ or ‘milakiensis’ after the river where it was found. However, Dr. Jayasimhan insisted that the fish be named in his honor, to which Dr. Limaakum graciously agreed.

The study detailing this discovery was published in the taxonomic journal ‘Zootaxa’ following a rigorous peer review process. Badis fish species are often referred to as Chameleon fish due to their remarkable ability to rapidly change colour during breeding, to blend into their surroundings, or when experiencing stress.