ExtensionMaricultureResearch ProjectsProduction TrendAbout us Contact usSitemapAgricultural Technology Information Centre (ATIC)Whats newMandateConsultancyRelated LinksLibraryTeaching Home

Demersal Fisheries Division (DFD)

Elasmobranchs
Among the elasmobranchs, sharks account for 63% of the landings followed by rays (33%) and skates (4%). In Maharashtra, Sharks represented by Scoliodon laticaudus were the major group. In Tamilnadu, off Tuticorin, the deep-sea trawlers landed sharks, with the major constituent being the bramble shark Echinorhinus brucus.
Whale shark is a highly vulnerable species. The aimed fishing in recent years along the coast of Gujarat is on the increase and suitable regulatory measures need to be enforced along the coast of Gujarat. The data generated so far are analysed and a publication is being brought out. There is a good export market for shark fins and in the domestic market; there is demand for shark liver and meat. Though these are fished in smaller numbers in comparison to teleosts, there is increasing concern world over, in recent years, on the exploitation of the sharks because of their relatively longer lifespan and very low fecundity.
Click for big size

Groupers, Snappers and Pig face breams
The major perches, usually abundant in the rocky outgrowths and coral ridges, contributed to 2% of the total marine landings of the country, with an average estimated yield of 39,841 t during 1988-92. The highlights of the research carried out on the perch fishery resources of India are:
Hooks and lines account for 73% of the total perch landings off Vizhinjam.  
 The fishery before introduction of OBM units was of a regular nature with common species contributing to the catches (CPUE fluctuating moderately), but after the introduction of OBM boats, the fishery witnessed a notable change in the species composition and seasonality with invariably higher CPUE.
 
A review of the knowledge on the groupers and snappers was made and it was found that:
These fishes are abundant along the northwest coast, off Kerala, Wadge bank and Gulf of Mannar, in depths upto 360m,
The regions where these fishes are abundant are not trawlable due to the rocky and coralline growths,
Introduction of trapping and long lining for these fishes in the 75-100m off the Southwest coast, 35-65 m in the Gulf of Mannar and the wadge bank and 91-125 m along the northwest coast would result in fishing these resources to optimal levels.

Catfish
Catfish are caught in trawl, gillnets and hooks and line and purse seine. Major species caught were Tachysurus dussumieri off Bombay and Madras and T. thalassinus off Cochin and Visakhapatnam. With the estimated annual average landing of 52649 t, the Catfish formed about 2.0% of the total marine landings of India in 1998.
The study also showed that the spawning in T. tenuispinis, T. dussumieri and T. serratus takes place in inshore waters along Kerala and Karnataka coasts during July-December periods with different peak periods, and it is necessary to regulate purse seining in the inshore waters to prevent exploitation of spawners/gestating males. It has also been shown that there is scope to increase yield of catfish along northwest and northeast coasts by the use of hooks and lines, gillnets, and midwater trawls in depths of 30-100 m.

Stock assessment studies on Tachysurus thalassinus, T. tenuispinis, T. dussumieri, T. serratus, and Osteogeniosus militaris indicated that the species of the genus Tachysurus were subjected to heavy fishing pressure mainly by the trawlers and purse-seiners due to the non-judicious harvest of spawners eggs/embryos, and juveniles/sub adults.

Threadfin breams
These fishes are abundant along the west coast of India and peak landings are obtained during Monsoon and immediately after monsoon months.

Nemipterus japonicus and N.mesoprion are the most dominant species in the landings forming about 90% of threadfin bream catch, though four other species also are caught.

Along the coast of Tamilnadu, large-scale fishing on juveniles of N. japonicus was reported due to the reduction of codend mesh size of trawl nets.
The estimated annual landing of about 81,228 t, the threadfin breams formed 3.0% of the total marine landings in 1998. There is a gradual increase in the landings brought about by increased trawling effort and extension of fishing up to 100-120 m depth range in certain areas
Stock assessment studies along Maharashtra coast in respect of N. japonicus and N. mesoprion indicated that the exploitation of these species is close to optimum level. Along the coast of Karnataka, the study revealed that the Maximum Sustainable Economic yield of N. Japonicus could be obtained at 80% of the current effort.

Silverbellies
The silverbellies are predominantly inhabitants of inshore waters and are most abundant in depths up to about 40 m in regions having muddy bottom. The maximum catch comes from Tamilnadu which accounted for over 72% of the landing in the country followed by Andhra Pradesh (8.4%), Kerala (8.3%), Karnataka (3.5%), Gujarat (3.4%), West Bengal (2.1%) and other states during 1997-98.
The species composition of silver bellies in different regions is very different: along the southeast coast all the species (20) occur in the catches and the most dominant species are Leiognathus jonesi, L. dussumieri and L. brevirostris. In the northern Tamilnadu and Andhra Pradesh, only 9-10 species contribute to the fishery but the dominant species are Leiognathus bindus, L. splendens and Secutor insidiator. In Karnataka the dominant species is Secutor insidiator and in Kerala the dominant species is L. splendens.
Stock assessment studies were conducted in respect of Andhra Pradesh and Tamilnadu considering the dominant species: L. bindus and S. insidiator along Andhra Pradesh and Northern Tamilnadu and L. jonesi and L. dussumieri along southern Tamilnadu coast. The study revealed that the effort has to be decreased by 20% in Andhra Pradesh, increased by 20% in northern Tamilnadu and increase by 40% in southern Tamilnadu.
The species composition of silver bellies in different regions is very different: along the southeast coast all the species (20) occur in the catches and the most dominant species are Leiognathus jonesi, L. dussumieri and L. brevirostris. In the northern Tamilnadu and Andhra Pradesh, only 9-10 species contribute to the fishery but the dominant species are Leiognathus bindus, L. splendens and Secutor insidiator. In Karnataka the dominant species is Secutor insidiator and in Kerala the dominant species is L. splendens.
Stock assessment studies were conducted in respect of Andhra Pradesh and Tamilnadu considering the dominant species: L. bindus and S. insidiator along Andhra Pradesh and Northern Tamilnadu and L. jonesi and L. dussumieri along southern Tamilnadu coast. The study revealed that the effort has to be decreased by 20% in Andhra Pradesh, increased by 20% in northern Tamilnadu and increase by 40% in southern Tamilnadu.


Top