Bibliography of Indian Ocean scombroids

Bibliography of Indian Ocean scombroid

Billfish fishery along the Indian coast with special reference to the Indo-Pacific sailfish Istiophorus platypterus (Shaw and Nodder 1792)

The landings of the billfishes along the Indian coast are showing an increasing trend since the 1990s and the estimated annual average landing during 2000-2007 was 4317 t. Drift gillnets-cum-longline/handlines operated from mechanized and motorized craft contributed to the catches. Along the east coast, peak catches occur during July-September and along the west coast during October-March. Istiophorus platypterus, Makaira spp. and Xiphias gladius were recorded, of which, the sailfish I. platypterus was the most dominant. Fork length of I. platypterus in the landings at Cochin Fisheries Harbour during 2005-2007 ranged from 80 cm to 300 cm and was dominated by the length group 120 to 250 cm. Although a by-catch, sailfishes are of considerable economic value and detailed studies on the fishery and biological aspects from the Indian EEZ are needed to assess stock status on a regional basis

Taxonomy and key for the identification of tuna species exploited from the Indian EEZ

Tuna samples were collected from the commercial landings at Kochi, Tuticorin, Mangalore, Visakhapatnam, Veraval and Lakshadweep at regular intervals during 2006-2010. Detailed morphometric data, viz., height of dorsal and anal fins, eye diameter, snout length, head height and height of body were collected. Otoliths were collected from eight species and analysed. Results indicated that structure and shape of the otoliths show species specific differences. Taxonomic details of tunas and tuna like species have been generated from the present as well as past studies and the species were redescribed with color photographs and keys for identification. The species included Thunnus albacares (Bonnaterre, 1788), Thunnus obesus (Lowe, 1839), Thunnus tonggol (Bleeker, 1851), Sarda orientalis (Temminck & Schlegel, 1844), Katsuwonus pelamis (Linnaeus, 1758), Euthynnus affinis (Cantor, 1849), Auxis thazard (Lacepède, 1800), Auxis rochei (Risso, 1810) and Gymnosarda unicolor (Rüppell 1836)

Incidental by-catch of dolphins at fisheries harbour, Cochin with a note on their conservation and management in India

The present paper deals with the incidental bycatch of dolphins at Fisheries Harbour, Cochin. Catch statistics of dolphins lrom drift gillnets from January 1981 to December 1987 are given. Conservation and management of dolphins in India are stressed upon

Fishery, biology and population characteristics of longtail tuna, Thunnus tonggol (Bleeker, 1851) caught along the Indian coast

The longtail tuna, Thunnus tonggol, Bleeker, 1851 is an economically important species from commercial and recreational point of view. The species inhabit shelf and oceanic waters of tropical and temperate regions of the Indo-Pacific between 47° N and 33° S (Froese and Pauly, 2009) and generally occupy neritic areas of the oceans close to land masses (Yesaki, 1994)

Marine Fish Calendar. 4 Cochin

The article provides details about the marine fish landing at Cochin fisheries harbour, Kerala during the period 1981-1985. It was found that the majority of the landing was contributed by purse seine followed by trawlers, drift gill nets, boat seines, hooks and lines etc

Biology and fishery of the bullet tuna, Auxis rochei (Risso, 1810) in Indian waters

Auxis rochei, popularly known as the bullet tuna, is the smallest of all tuna species available in Indian waters. Its distribution is reported from all maritime states but it forms a fishery of commercial importance only in the south-west region (Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka) with targeted fishery being carried out in southern Kerala. The average annual catch (2006- 2010) is estimated at 3,131 t, constituting 2.8% of the total tuna landings. Commercial exploitation is mainly by gillnets and small hook and lines with the 0-1 yr old fishes comprising bulk of the commercial catch. The length-weight relationship was estimated as W=0.0076L3.249 with no significant difference between the sexes. Size at first maturity was estimated at 23.6 cm and fecundity estimated was 12,03,258. A. rochei spawns throughout the year with peak during July-September. Zooplankton, fishes and crustaceans were the dominant food items recorded. The von Bertalanffy growth parameters estimated were L∞= 42.3 cm, K= 0.61 yr-1 and t0= -0.0337. Mortality estimates were M=1.18 and Z=5.90 and F=4.72 with a high exploitation rate of E=0.80, calling for appropriate management measures to be adopted for continued exploitation at sustainable levels

Stock assessment of coastal tunas in the Indian seas

Tuna and billfish production from the Indian coastal waters, Lakshadweep and Andaman and Nicobar islands during the period 1985-'99 averaged 40,204 t. The contribution by E.affinis, Athazard, T.tonggol, K.pelamis and T.albacares (young ones) were 18,5041,6,8521,3,093 t, 3,3921 and 2,2111 respectively. Drift gill net was the major gear employed in the coastal tuna fishery. The length frequency data collected on the above species during 1990-'98 at seven centres along the Indian coast were analysed employing FiSAT programme to estimate their growth and mortality parameters, exploitation rates and relative yield per recmit