Kochi, Marine fisheries experts on Friday stressed the need to explore the vast potential of underutilized mesopelagic resources within India's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).

The experts were deliberating at a workshop on utilization and sustainable harvest of mesopelagic fishes organized by Mangalore Regional Center o ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI).

The marine mesopelagic zone occurs 200–1,000 meters below sea level, and is home to many small fish that play an important role in ecosystem dynamics.

Globally, the most abundant vertebrate fishes, mesopelagic fishes, including lantern fishes, are a largely untapped marine resource. CMFRI said most of these fish are not used for direct human consumption due to their high lipid or wax content.According to marine scientists, these fishes are a good source of proteins lipids and minerals, which can be used in the fish industry as poultry and animal feed and as crop fertilizer, CMFRI said in a release.

It added that experts are of the view that a pilot study should be conducted to estimate the accurate potential yield of these fisheries and understand the subsequent factors including economic feasibility for sustainable utilization of these resources.

Speaking at the workshop, Neetu Kumari Prasad, Joint Secretary, Department of Fisheries, Government of India, pledged support for entrepreneurial initiatives aimed at sustainable utilization of mesopelagic resources.

He said, “In government schemes, there are options to develop mechanisms for utilizing these fishes. The offshore resources are poorly explored.We must plan to take fishing beyond territorial waters and utilize untapped resources within the EEZ."

B Meenakumari, former chairperson of the National Biodiversity Authority, inaugurated the workshop and said that effective harvesting techniques should be developed to sustainably utilize this untapped potential.

CMFRI Director A Gopalakrishnan said that as per CMFRI's rough estimate, there is a potential of 1.6 million tonnes of mesopelagic resources available in the Indian EEZ.

However, intensive studies such as accurate mapping, sustainable harvest economics and post-harvest utilization of these invaluable resources are required to explore their use in the fish meal industry and for the development of cosmetic products derived from the waxy esters found in these fishes. Needed. He said.