Scientists to meet in search of ‘vanishing’ Sardines

Kochi: Scientists from various disciplines will gather on Tuesday at  Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) here, probing the reasons behind the depletion sardine run.

The meeting will focus on identifying reasons that adversely affect sardines. The study will take into account factors including climate change, ocean factors, biology of the sardine, social and economic reasons.

The meeting is slated to start at 9.30 a.m.  CMFRI has recently linked depletion of sardine shoal to  el nino phenomenon. 

However, it is yet to find out how mirco environs of undersea affect sardines.  In order to fill the vacuum, the disputation is planned to bringing in experts from other institutions. 

The meet will also consider how the sardine depletion will affect fisher folk economically at large.

Alongside CMFRI, other institutions to participate in the programme include National Institute of Oceanography, Indian National Centre for Ocean Information (Hyderabad), and Space Application Centre under ISRO.