Involving stakeholders in decisions affecting the fishery is an essential part of a successful management plan. The proposed project aims to build up a database on Mahseer stocks in Kerala by using data generated from field surveys carried out in association with local fishers to create a model for sustainable fishery management.

The project will generate a comprehensive database on stock structure, population dynamics, life history and exploitation patterns of Mahseer in two of the most important fishing regions in Kerala. Population information will allow calculation of Maximum Sustainable Yield (MSY) to form the basis for fishery regulations. Life history information on spawning migrations, reproductive biology and larval life cycle will allow development of in-situ conservation such as protected areas and closed seasons. As the project is the first attempt to look at the ‘life history-population-exploitation’ relationship of Mahseer in Kerala, our results would be the basis for any future decision making. Information generated from this study would also be useful inputs for international agencies including IUCN for their global freshwater fish threat assessment that is yet to be initiated in Western Ghats.

Local communities will be involved at all stages of the project from data collection to decision making. All results will be discussed with the concerned stakeholders and their opinions will be incorporated into the management plans to be developed for implementation by government.