‘Kuttanadan karimeen’ days to be back

ALAPPUZHA: The  very mention of ‘Kuttanadan karimeen’ is enough to tickle one’s tastebuds, but unfortunately the fish wealth is depleting due to increasing  pollution and other factors. But the Karimeen fans need not lose all hope.
To promote the breeding  of ‘Kuttanadan karimeen’ (pearl-spot  etroplus suratensis), the Agency For Development of Aquaculture (ADAK)  under the Fisheries Department is planning to implement ‘pen culture’ in the region covering Alappuzha, Kottayam and Pathanamthitta districts.
With the help of fishermen and low-income farmers, the ADAK will start ‘karimeen’ sanctuaries across the region. Studies by the Kerala Agricultural University and other NGOs have found that pearl-spot in the Vembanad lake and Kuttanadan region was drastically depleted.
Earlier, the Kuttanadan pearl-spot was the main attraction of tourists. It was also the main livelihood of hundreds of fishermen and farmers of the region.
The study conducted by the KAU Kumarakom centre led by associate professor K G Padmakumar found that  pearl-spot and prawn were vanishing from the lake.
"Pearl-spot wealth was about 2,000 tonnes in 2001. In 2011, it decreased to about 300 to 350 tonnes. Pollution is the main reason of the  depletion of fish wealth. It has seriously affected the livelihood of the fishermen in the Kuttanand region,” Padmakumar said.
Another study by the MS Swaminathan Research Foundation revealed that the  fish wealth in the lake was  decreasing due to the construction of Thanneermukkom bund and pollution.
The 13th Finance Commission had sanctioned Rs 20 crore for the development of fish wealth  in three years.
Fisheries Deputy Director and ADAK Regional Executive S Sreekumar  said, ‘‘The ADAK will allot Rs 30,000 for a farmers’ unit, including three farmers, fishermen or low-income persons, to begin ‘pen culture’ for breeding Kuttanadan karimeen.
‘‘It will sanction Rs 18,000 as subsidy to the farmers’ group. About 1,000 units will begin this season”.
Farming will be done in the outer bunds of the farm lands. The ADAK will supply the nets to rear  the fish and  also give training. About 1,200 pearl-spots will be spread in a unit.
The farmers will collect fingerlings of ‘Kuttanadan karimeen’ to be deposited in the sanctuary, Sreekumar said.