In News:

Researchers at the Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI), Kochi, have successfully decoded the gene expression pattern of the Indian squid (Uroteuthis duvaucelii), marking a major scientific advancement with wide-ranging implications for neuroscience, environmental studies, and sustainable marine resource management.

About Indian Squid

• Common Name: Indian Calamari
• Scientific Classification: Cephalopod
• Size: Typically 20–30 cm; can grow up to 50 cm
• Appearance: Light pinkish-grey body with two large fins, eight arms, and two longer tentacles used for capturing prey
• Key Abilities:
  • Camouflage
  • Jet propulsion for rapid movement
  • Advanced nervous system
  • Problem-solving skills and behavioral intelligence

Habitat & Distribution

• Preferred Habitat: Coastal and open sea regions of the Indian Ocean
  • Found at depths ranging from 100 to 500 meters, some even up to 1,500 meters
  • Requires high dissolved oxygen levels for respiration
• Geographic Distribution:
  • Widely distributed in the Indo-West Pacific
  • Found in Indian Ocean, Red Sea, Arabian Sea, from Mozambique to the South China Sea, Philippine Sea, and northward to Taiwan
• Conservation Status: IUCN Red List: Least Concern

Scientific Significance of Genetic Research

• Key Findings:
  • Revealed genetic similarities with higher vertebrates like fish and humans, suggesting deep evolutionary links
  • Indicates that Indian squid could serve as a model organism to study brain evolution, intelligence, and neurobiological functions
  • Potential to inform research in neural circuits, memory, learning, and even neurological diseases
  • Findings may also explain squid's adaptive success, such as evading predators and fishing pressures due to high cognitive ability

Institutional Background: CMFRI

• Established: 1947
• Affiliation: Part of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) since 1967
• Headquarters: Kochi, Kerala
• Mandate: Research on sustainable marine fisheries and ecosystem conservation

CMFRI’s Broader Recommendations for Sustainable Marine Management

• Enactment of Sea Fishing Act to regulate fishing beyond territorial waters
• Institutionalization of ecological stock assessments for sustainable exploitation
• Simplification and promotion of open mariculture with focus on environmental sustainability
• Use of AI-based systems to estimate landings and monitor fishing vessels
• Deep-sea resource exploration and alternative fishing methods
• Institutional mechanism for supervising deep-sea fishing
• Strengthening insurance coverage for marine fishers