The Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) has identified a new species of mackerel in Kerala waters which is expected to boost the state's fisheries sector.
The black-spotted fish, which is round in shape, has been named 'Scomber indicus' by a team of CMFRI scientists led by E M Abdussamad, after their study showed that the new species is distinctly different, both taxonomically and genetically, from the other members of the mackerel family.
The fish is called 'pulli ayala' or 'pulli thiriyan' by the local fishermen.
The meat texture of the fish is soft and tastes similar to Indian mackerel, according to the fishers, a CMFRI release said here.
"The newly identified Indian chub mackerel is distinct from other members of the mackerel family found earlier in the coastal waters around the world and is expected to boost the fishery of the state," CMFRI Director A Gopalakrishnan said.
"The species would become a potential resource to form a commercial fishery," he added.
While a catch of 10 tonnes of the Indian chub mackerel was recorded in the state in 2015, around 25 tonnes of the species was caught from Kerala coasts this year itself, showing the growth of the fish in the state, Gopalakrishnan added.
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