Seasonal seafood: a simple choice that can support healthier Indian oceans

What’s for lunch today—surmai, pomfret or prawns? Along India’s coastline, marine scientists suggest an additional question can be just as important: *Is this the right time to eat this fish?* Choosing seafood in season, aligned with breeding cycles, is being positioned as one practical way consumers can support ocean health—without giving up seafood altogether.

That thinking sits at the heart of **Know Your Fish (KYF)**, a voluntary initiative co-founded by marine biologists **Pooja Rathod** and **Mayuresh Gangal**. The initiative encourages people to match seafood choices with the rhythms of the sea, rather than treating every species as a year-round option.

A calendar built around breeding cycles Unlike advisories that only list endangered species, Know Your Fish takes a more day-to-day approach. Designed for India’s **west coast**, it offers an **online calendar** that helps consumers identify which fish are likely to be breeding during different months—and which species are better avoided during those periods.

The recommendations, as described by the initiative’s founders, are based on a mix of factors including **breeding cycles, biological traits and vulnerability to overharvest**. In other words, the focus is not just on whether a species is “rare”, but on whether it may be particularly sensitive to fishing pressure at certain times.

Importantly, the initiative does not frame seasonal seafood as a perfect fix. The message is more grounded: seafood choices are only one part of a wider system that includes fishing practices, markets, regulations and livelihoods. Still, better-informed consumer demand can create room for healthier outcomes over time.

Similar guidance for India’s **east coast** is also being developed, reflecting an understanding that coastal ecosystems and fishing patterns vary widely across regions.

Information, not judgement—bringing marine science home A key feature of KYF is its tone. As Gangal explains in the source report, the intention is not to judge consumers or prescribe diets. The goal is to offer enough information so people can make informed choices, acknowledging that consumers are also part of the seafood system.

This approach matters in India, where seafood is deeply tied to culture, nutrition and local economies. It also creates a bridge between conservation conversations and everyday life—something Rathod highlights as a broader aim: making marine science accessible so that ocean health does not feel distant or abstract.

The team also recognised that while some traditional practices may align closely with breeding cycles, others may not. Instead of relying on assumptions, they compared local knowledge with decades of fisheries science. That effort to cross-check and translate scientific understanding into practical guidance is what makes the calendar usable for households, fish markets and restaurants.

In the source report, perspectives include those of marine scientist **Dr Rohan Arthur**, a Mumbai fisherman **Ganesh Nakhawa**, and restaurateur **Ilvika Chandavarkar**—illustrating how seasonal seafood conversations can connect researchers, fishing communities and the hospitality sector.

Small shifts that add up For consumers, the entry point is straightforward: when buying fish or ordering seafood, check whether that species is currently in its breeding phase, and consider choosing alternatives that are not.

This kind of shift can do two positive things at once. First, it helps reduce pressure on species at the time they need space to reproduce. Second, it nudges demand towards a more seasonal marketplace—where availability reflects nature, not just supply chains.

Seasonal eating is familiar on land—many people prefer mangoes in summer and certain greens in winter. Applying the same idea to seafood is a gentle behavioural change, not a dramatic lifestyle overhaul.

**Why it matters:** In-season seafood choices can help align consumer demand with the ocean’s natural cycles, supporting long-term marine resilience while keeping the conversation practical, inclusive and rooted in everyday decisions.