Immersion disturbing stingray breeding in bay

Experts probing fish-bite cases during Ganesh immersion on Tuesday, say the incident was an outcome of a coincidence that must have disturbed the creatures.

Scientists from Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) visited Girgaum beach and found dead stingrays, elvers (baby eels) and box jellyfish in the waters.

“Higher temperatures induce breeding and this draws the creatures to the shores,” said Dr VD Deshmukh, scientist-in-charge, CMFRI. “Jellyfish, which breed in a warmer environment, have gathered in bay of Girgaum Chowpatty these days, which has coincided with the immersion.”

Deshmukh said the jellyfish appear to have gone away. But the stingrays have not finished laying eggs and this will be disturbed by immersion over the next few days. “Stingrays are docile creatures which only respond in self-defence,” he said.

Dr SN Gajbhiye, chief scientist at the National Institute of Oceanography, said that July to September is the fisheries season. “The marine creatures usually live out in open sea and come to shore for breeding because of the abundance of plankton and other food during this period,” he said.

A team of the fisheries institute will be at the beach on the remaining days of the festival. The civic body will provide boats for immersion.