Kerala authorities confirm fish safety amid ongoing monitoring after Kochi shipwreck

Kerala authorities have reassured the public about fish safety following the sinking of a Liberian-flagged vessel carrying hazardous cargo about 15 nautical miles off the Kochi coast. The 184-meter-long ship, which sank early Sunday, had 640 containers including 13 with hazardous materials and significant quantities of diesel and furnace oil.

The government has banned fishing within a 20-nautical mile radius of the wreck to prevent contaminated seafood from entering the market. "There is currently no reason to avoid eating fish, as fish from the affected area are not entering the market," said Dr. Grinson George, Director of the ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI).

CMFRI and the State Fisheries Department are actively conducting water sampling and monitoring the situation closely to ensure public safety. Despite minor oil and diesel leaks, authorities have confirmed there has been no major oil spill. "While minor oil traces have been detected, there has been no major oil spill. All traces found along the coast are being cleaned up through coordinated efforts," stated Senthil Kumar, Principal Officer, MMD Kochi.

The government’s operational priorities include oil recovery from the sunken vessel, retrieval of drifting containers, and removal of beached containers. Ajithkumar Sukumaran, Chief Surveyor to the Government of India, emphasized that "all mechanisms are in place to address the issue and avert any further mishap."

Public concerns fueled by social media posts about chemical leakage have been addressed through transparent communication and ongoing monitoring, aiming to maintain consumer confidence in seafood safety.

This coordinated response highlights Kerala’s commitment to environmental safety and public health amid the complex challenges posed by the shipwreck.

Kerala authorities confirm fish safety after the Liberian-flagged vessel carrying hazardous cargo sank near Kochi. Despite minor oil leaks, fishing is banned within 20 nautical miles. Ongoing monitoring by CMFRI and state agencies assures no contaminated fish have entered markets amid cleanup efforts.