Mangrove cover in Kerala has grown since 2017, an ICAR-CMFRI satellite study finds
6 November 2026
A study by the Kochi-based ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) shows that mangrove cover in Kerala has expanded overall in the last ten years. Researchers compared satellite images of 2017 and 2026 to track mangrove vegetation in the coastal districts. The gain comes after the State lost nearly 90% of its mangroves over the past five decades. Mangroves act as nurseries for fish, shield the coast from cyclones and storm surges, and store carbon. The findings were presented at the international symposium on fisheries and remote sensing at CMFRI. The symposium is organised by the Trevor Platt Science Foundation, the Department of Chemical Oceanography of CUSAT, CMFRI and the Marine Biological Association of India.
In plain words
ICAR-CMFRI Indian Council of Agricultural Research - Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute — India's main marine fisheries research institute, headquartered at Kochi.
CUSAT Cochin University of Science and Technology — A State university at Kochi known for marine sciences and engineering.
Remote sensing — Gathering information about the Earth's surface from satellites or aircraft without physical contact.