Sighting of the Short-finned pilot whale

A small pod of Short-finned pilot whale Globicephala macrorhynchus (Gray, 1846) was observed during a fishing cruise of FV Silver Pompano on 19th April, 2015 for exploration of the oceanic squid Sthenoteuthis oualaniensis in the Southern Arabian Sea

Rare observation of scar-bearing cuttlebone in a wild-caught Sepia pharaonis (Cephalopoda: Sepiidae) from southeastern Arabian Sea

A rare observation of the severely fractured cum healing cuttlebone of wild-caught Sepia pharaonis is reported and discussed here. The observation showed that cuttlebone of one specimen was severely affected by scars. Scars were interpreted as oval-shaped teeth marks on the dorsal side having a diameter of 23 mm. Several other teeth marks (3-4 numbers) were also observed at the anterodorsal region. Fracture was completely healed at the dorsal side while fracture (19 mm length) was notable in posteroventral region. Inverted ‘V’shaped blackline was also observed on the posteroventral region. However, scar-bearing cuttlebones was more or less symmetrical with respect to the sagittal plane

Unusual landing of the giant form of Purpleback flying squid

According to the fishermen, this species is found in the Northeastern Arabian Sea but due to lack of domestic market demand, they are mostly discarded. Further studies on its reproductive biology, age, growth characteristics and identification of internal parasites are being carried out

Rare occurrence of Reinhardt’s cranch squid Liocranchia reinhardti (Cephalopod: Cranchiidae) from southeastern Arabian Sea

Single individual of the rare cranchiid squid Liocranchia reinhardti belonging to the Cranchiidae family was caught in a bottom trawl operated at 80 m in southeastern Arabian Sea. The morphometric measurements and indices of the specimen are provided. Statolith microstructure analysis revealed that the L. reinhardti with 118 mm dorsal mantle length (DML) had an age of 71 days with growth rate of 1.66 mm DML/day

Checklist of marine bivalves and gastropods off Kollam, Kerala

Species diversity of any region can be illustrated by means of an available checklist. It provides an overview of the species that have been recorded. and can be considered to understand the local fauna. Fortnightly surveys were carried out to collect the shell-molluscs samples during 2012 - 2014 period from the by-catch of shrimp/fish trawlers landed at Sakthikulangara-Neendakara Fishing Harbour, Kollam. Collected bivalves and gastropods included both empty shells and living animals. Collected shells were brought to the laboratory and placed in freezer for 24 hours. This would liquefy the mollusc body and allowed easy extraction with a strong jet of water

Recent advances on the diversity of oceanic cephalopods from the Southeastern Arabian sea

Recent advances on the diversity of oceanic cephalopods from the Southeastern Arabian se

Age, growth and maturation in the mesopelagic squid Abralia andamanica (Cephalopoda: Enoploteuthidae) from the Arabian Sea

Age, growth and maturation in the mesopelagic squid Abralia andamanica (Cephalopoda: Enoploteuthidae) were studied in 140 individuals of 15-60 mm dorsal mantle length (DML) captured from open waters in the southeast Arabian Sea. The length-weight relationship was estimated as W=0.278 DML1.884 (R2 =0.93). Age estimates based on statolith increment counts ranged from 79 to 177 days, suggesting a short (<200-day) lifespan. Growth in length was best described by a linear function for males and a power function for females. Growth in weight was best described by a power function for both sexes. Growth rates of the DML ranged from 0.16 to 0.30 (mean=0.24) mm/day in males and from 0.23 to 0.43 (mean=0.33) mm/ day in females. The hatching season extended from June to August (monsoon season)

Emerging commercial importance for Diamondback squid in Kerala and Karnataka

The incidental catches of Diamondback squid, Thysanoteuthis rhombus (Fig.1) has been reported from the Indian EEZ earlier. This monotypic oceanic species belonging to the Family Thysanoteuthidae, is found in tropical and subtropical seas of the world. A large squid species capable of attaining dorsal mantle length (DML) up to 100 cm and weighing about 24 kg, they are listed as Least Concer

Oyster Farming Techniques

Oysters, mussels, clams, scallops, cockles and abalones are major groups of molluscs which are cultured in different parts of the world. Edible oysters are the most important among them, as they are great delicacy and there is growing demand. There is an increasing interest in oyster culture in tropical countries in recent years. In India there is a growing demand for oyster meat in some parts of the country. They are highly esteemed sea food and considered a delicacy in USA, Europe, Japan etc. It is said that ‘oyster’ is scientifically the best known marine animal. It is one of the most widely cultivated species. As early as the first century BC the Romans were the first to develop simple methods of collecting oyster seeds and growing them for food

Mussel Culture

Mariculture of bivalves greater importance in meeting the increasing protein demands of the human population. Bivalve groups such as oyster, mussel and clam are the most important cultivable organisms all over the world. Of these, P. viridis andP.indica forms the most dominant cultivable species. The Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) has developed eco-friendly techniques for mussel culture. Recently, CMFRI has taken up efforts to popularize mussel culture in all coastal districts of Kerala