Thiruvananthapuram: Unchecked deep-sea shrimp trawling off Kerala may be damaging marine ecosystems, fish stocks and fisher livelihoods, scientists have warned, following the rare discovery of a deep-sea telescope octopus off the Kollam coast last year. The warning comes after the first-ever confirmed record of the telescope octopus (Amphitretus pelagicus) in Indian waters, documented from the Laccadive Sea and published in the Springer journal Russian Journal of Marine Biology.While the discovery is a scientific milestone, researchers said it has exposed serious gaps in the monitoring and regulation of deep-sea fishing activities in Kerala. According to the study, deep-sea shrimp trawling typically results in 20-40% bycatch, including juvenile fish and non-target species, with bycatch levels rising to 80% in some operations.With the annual landing of the main deep-sea shrimp species exceeding 2,000 tonnes, the researchers estimate that 500 to 1,300 tonnes of non-target marine organisms are discarded every year. Such large-scale discarding threatens the long-term sustainability of fish stocks and could have cascading economic consequences for fishing communities, boat owners and allied sectors dependent on marine resources, the study warned.“The discovery shows how little we know about our deep-sea marine ecosystems. The telescope octopus was not caught through a targeted operation but as bycatch. That itself is a warning,” said P J Sarlin, head of the department of zoology at Fatima Mata National College, Kollam, who led the study. “If fragile and rare deep-sea species are turning up when nets dredge through deep waters, it points to serious gaps in monitoring and management of deep-sea fishing.“The Amphitretus octopus is known for its transparent, gelatinous body and distinctive tubular eyes adapted for midwater life. Although it is listed as ‘Least Concern’ on the IUCN Red List, the study noted that the classification reflects a lack of population data rather than confirmed security, particularly in Indian waters where deep-sea biodiversity remains poorly studied.Sarlin warned that the unchecked expansion of deep-sea shrimp trawling could have long-term consequences for marine ecology and livelihoods. “Marine ecosystems are extremely delicate and recover very slowly. Once the damage is done, it may be irreversible,” she said.Calling for stronger regulation, she stressed the need for systematic monitoring, regular bycatch assessments and targeted deep-sea biodiversity studies. “We need a better balance between fishing and conservation. If we fail to act now, these resources and the livelihoods dependent on them could slip out of our hands,” she added.Vyacheslav Bizikov, marine biologist at Russian Federal Reaserch Institute of Fisheries and Oceanography in Moscow, and Lijin Kunnathully Gopi, a data scientist, were part of the study.
