EXPERTS SAY TAINTED FISH HAUL WAS FROM OFF AFRICAN COAST

The fish heads of this particular species should not be made available for consumption, said experts

Statement will protect industry in the state; Nearly 152 people had fallen ill in Ullal last week after consuming ‘chemberi’ fish heads

Preliminary investigation conducted into the recent incident of ciguatera poisoning incident in Mangaluru, revealed that the consignment came from Cochin. The poisoning is caused by the consumption of reef fish contaminated with ciguatoxin, which originates with certain dinoflagellate algae associated with coral reef systems. These accumulate in the food chain via small herbivorous fish that are eaten by larger carnivorous fish. It may be recalled that nearly 152 fell ill in Ullal after eating the fish heads of a particular variety fish known as ‘chemberi’ or the two-spot red snapper (Lutjanus bohar), last Friday.

Following the incident, a review meeting chaired by UT Khader, minister for food and civil supplies and consumer affairs, was held at the deputy commissioner’s office on Thursday. The meeting was attended by the officers from the health and fisheries department, as well as scientists representing the Fisheries College, Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI), Marine Products Exports Development Authority (MPEDA) and Dr Iddya Karunasagar, FSSAI consultant and member of the scientific committee. According to experts, No reports of harmful algal blooms from state waters have been reported recently.

Speaking to Bangalore Mirror on the sidelines of the review meeting, Ganesh K, fisheries department director in-charge, said, “The consignment of the red snapper that affected consumers, was procured by a fish exporting firm from Cochin. It is suspected that the vessel may have gone to South Africa, Solomon Islands or Maldives - where rampant algal bloom occurs. Consumers must know that toxins are not present in the fish found in the Karnataka coast. The toxin is suspected from to be from Solomon Island where the coral reefs exist. The company had procured red snappers from a vessel in Cochin. The samples have been sent to labs,” he said. Ashok Kumar from the marine authority said, “The vessel had gone for deep sea fishing. We have to identify where they have gone exactly. We are in the process of getting the exact location of the vessel that was fitted with GPS,” he said.

Earlier at the meeting, he said, “We visited the factory on Wednesday and analysed where they procured the raw material. As per the report given by them, the vessel was from Kuthur and they claim that they went near South Africa. The Kuthur fishermen have the capacity to go for deep sea fishing. They have the capacity to go beyond our Exclusive Economic Zone waters. As per the preliminary information given by the processors, it was found to be from one of the South African Islands. We are in the process of getting facts regarding the location of the vessel. All processors of the region have been alerted. This is for the first time that such an incident was reported in our region. The source has to be controlled.”

Dr Prathibha Rohit, principal scientist, Pelagic Fisheries Division, CMFRI Research Centre, Mangaluru, said there are about more than 250 reef-associated fishes. “Regarding the two-spot red snapper, the availability in Indian Coast is not so great. But certainly our fishing capacity has increased. We are going outside the Indian boundaries. There are several chemberi species; this particular species forms less than one per cent of the total snapper catch from our coasts. We have gathered from fish processors that it has come from Kerala,” she said.

Deputy commissioner KG Jagadeesha said it is not that all fish heads have to be avoided. He said fish that cause harm should not be made available.

“The fish has not come from our coast. Extra care should be taken with regard to fish coming from other coasts. The fish heads of this particular species should not be made available for consumption. The waste must be used only as fertilizer,” he said. He warned exporters to take necessary precautions. Meanwhile, he directed the health department to follow a standard protocol to be announced in case of such incidents. He also asked the research institutes to constitute a committee about fish parts and fish that should not be consumed.

In a related development, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has asked Dr Iddya Karunasagar to draft a national food advisory for fish poisoning, especially ciguatera-related poisoning. FSSAI consultant and member of the scientific committee, Karunasagar said before they are exported, the heads and viscera are removed from the fishes, which end up in the market.

At the meeting, caution when dealing with puffer fish was also discussed. The most poisonous part of the puffer fish is its gallbladder. According to an estimate, about 20-30 tonnes of this fish come to the state coast daily.