Fishery of threadfin breams at Waltair with notes on some aspects of biology of Nemipterus mesoprion (Bleeker)

Abstract

At Waltair, during 1980.82, threadfin breams were abundant in the catches of private trawlers during the fint half of the year. The average annual landings were 895 tonnes. Nemipterus mesoprion is carnivorous subsisting mainly on crustaceans and teleosts. Among crustaceans young prawns, crabs and Squilla sp. are dominant. Studies on growth rate of N. mesoprion showed that the fishery was supported mainly by fishes measuring 70-140 mm. The species showed a monthly growth rate of 10 mm in fishes measuring 70-140 mm. It was also observed that the percentage contribution of males was more than the females