Goa: New fish species in Zuari piques interest of scientists

PANAJI: The finding of three uncommon fish species in the Zuari bay recently - two of them new records - has sparked curiosity among scientists and others, as the marine biodiversity hotspot continues to be a rich source for research.
An unique spectacled fish, Istigobius diadema, was found by G B Sreekanth, the fisheries scientist at Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), Old Goa, while sampling the fishermen’s catch at Cacra recently.
The second one, a peculiar cube-shaped yellow fish, Lactoria cornuta - pet keepers will surely grab it for their aquariums - was netted by a Siridao fisherman Yogesh Santondekar near the Vasco coast.
“Both these fish have unique features and are new records for Zuari. Box fish was recorded earlier by us in the coral reef at Grande island while sand goby is a marine fish,” Sreekanth said.
The third fish that generated interest on a social media group was the finding of surgeonfish (Acanthurus dussumieri) at Sao Jacino island.
“Fishermen do catch it once in a while, but I have seen it for the first time,” Silvestro D Souza, a chef who documents fish species for taste and other aspects, said.
ICAR’s ongoing documentation in Zuari, Mandovi and Tiracol estuaries has recorded more than 350 species due to the participatory approach of fishermen from Cacra and other areas.
“We would be spending thousands of rupees in fish survey expeditions, but here the fishermen provide us with unique fish samples or we sample their catch - without any expenditure,” Sreekanth said.
Zoological survey of India had recorded 52 species in fresh and estuarine waters of Goa in 1972. NIO and fisheries department followed in inventorizing fish species and ICAR in exploring Grande island’s coral reefs, Zuari bay and inland waters.
“ICAR is mandated to research coastal resources along the Indian coast. Our fish resources assessment in Goa’s estuaries is useful for stakeholders such as fishermen, fisheries department and others for conservation and management work,” ICAR director Parveen Kumar said.
The scientific community’s data sharing with stakeholders is important, Goa State Biodiversity Board member secretary Pradip Sarmokadam said. “When all stakeholders, fisheries, biodiversity board and other organisations work together, they complement each other’s work.”