Baleen whale washed ashore at Neendakara

On 9th October 2016, a baleen whale, Balaenoptera sp measuring 15.5m in total length was washed ashore at Neendakara Landing Centre, Kollam (Fig. 1). The animal was in highly decayed condition and identification to species level was difficult. The local fisherman reported that the animal was found drifting in the offshore for a couple of days before it got washed ashore. The Local Body authorities later buried the animal on the beach itsel

Whale shark landed in Sakthikulangara Fisheries Harbour

An immature female whale shark Rhincodon typus accidently caught by a multiday trawler on 19th August 2019 was landed on the same day at Sakthikulangara Fisheries Harbour (Fig. 1) Listed as an endangered species by International Union for Conservation of Natural Resources, locally the shark is known as ‘pullisravu.’ The whaleshark measured 265cm and weighed approximately 250kg. As there was no buyer for this species which is protected under the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, the carcass was discarded into the sea

Huge Giant manta ray landed

A Giant manta ray, Mobula birostris locally known as “Aana Thirandi ” weighing around 900 kg was landed at Neendakara Fishing Harbour on 14th April 2023

Rescue of stranded Hawksbill turtle in Kollam, Kerala

On 27th  March, 2019, fisher folks of Kakkathoppu, a coastal area of Kollam district in Kerala, India, found a Hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata), stranded in the rocky seashore (Fig1). The turtle was live female that weighed approximately 50 kg having a carapace length of 48 cm. According to the local fishermen, the turtle was unable to swim back to sea due to ruptured carapace and fatigued condition. On primary evaluation, barnacles were observed to be covering a part of its body and the carapace as well as head region were found exposed to sunburn

Accidental catch of Bull shark at Munambam Fisheries Harbour

A female Bull shark was landed by a multiday trawler at Munambam Fisheries Harbour. It was reportedly caught at 60 metres depth and measured 272 cm in length and weighed 262 kg. Sharks caught accidentally in the trawl net is quite rare, as was observed her

Rare occurrence of cirrate octopod Opisthoteuthis sp.

A single specimen of cirrate octopod Opisthoteuthis sp. was collected from Sakthikulangara Fisheries Harbour in Kollam district on 12th April 2022 (Fig.1). It was a by-catch in a bottom trawl operated at a depth of 200m. Three species of Opisthoteuthis are currently known to occur in the Indian Ocean. These are O. phillipi, O

Rare occurrence of Yellowmargin trigger fish from Kerala coast

The fishes of the family Balistidae are popularly known as trigger fishes and distributed along the Indian and the Pacific Oceans, though certain species are restricted to particular regions

Report on spider crab Paramaja sp. from Southwest coast of India

The collected female crab was in berried condition with a carapace length (CL) of 82 mm and total weight (TW) of 49.2 g. The presently procured specimen may belong to P. gibba, as various diagnostic characters observed were in agreement

Indian Ocean humpback dolphin stranded at Arthunkal landing centre, Kerala

On November 2, 2022, the carcass of a dead dolphin, Sousa plumbea (Indian Ocean Humpback Dolphin), was discovered at the Arthunkal landing centre in Alapuzha, Kerala (9039’42.0”N 76017’29.5”E)

Rapid Assessment of marine debris in the coastal waters of Kerala

Marine debris are any manmade materials released into marine ecosystem as a result of various human activities and main sources include maritime and fishing activities, riverine inputs, storm water and urban run-off, tourism and beach activities, industrial and domestic sources and oil rigs. The debris also causes problems to fishermen as they get caught in their gear and causes damages to it and also affects their work efficienc