KOCHI, 15 November 2026 : strong>KOCHI, 15 Novemmber 2026: The ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) has documented 161 marine mammal stranding cases along the Indian coast during 2024–25, with Goa recording the highest number at 113, followed by Kerala (13) and Maharashtra (11).
To strengthen marine mammal conservation, the institute has developed Geographic Information System (GIS)-based maps to identify stranding patterns and potential hotspots along the coastline. The findings were presented at an international symposium on fisheries and remote sensing organised at CMFRI.
The study, led by CMFRI Senior Scientist Dr Ratheesh Kumar Raveendran, found that humpback dolphins (Sousa plumbea) accounted for the highest number of strandings, with 82 cases, followed by Indo-Pacific finless porpoises (Neophocaena phocaenoides) with 44 cases.
The data were collected through CMFRI's marine mammal stranding network, supported by regional research centres, trained volunteers and validated information from open-access databases, including the Marine Mammal Research and Conservation Network of India (MMRCNI).
In a related initiative, CMFRI has developed an interactive GIS-based marine mammal stranding information platform integrating around 1,300 geographical records covering 32 marine mammal species. The platform provides information on stranding locations, species identification, incident records and possible causes of death.
Its interactive mapping interface allows researchers and conservation agencies to analyse the geographical and temporal distribution of marine mammal strandings along the Indian coast.
Dr Raveendran said the platform would help researchers, policymakers and conservation agencies identify priority areas, investigate potential threats and strengthen coordinated responses through improved stranding reporting networks.
The research also highlighted the importance of field investigations, DNA-based species identification and spatial analysis in improving scientific understanding of marine mammal strandings.
The three-day international symposium is jointly organised by the Trevor Platt Science Foundation, the Department of Chemical Oceanography at Cochin University of Science and Technology (CUSAT), CMFRI and the Marine Biological Association of India. Union Secretary of the Ministry of Earth Sciences Dr Srinivasa Kumar Tummala will inaugurate the valedictory session on Friday.