Marine fishing practices and coastal aquaculture technologies in India

Among the countries bordering the Indian Ocean, India, endowed with 2.02 million sq. km of EEZ along a coastline of8129 km and 0.5 million sq. km of continental shelf with a catchable annual marine fishery potential of 3.93 million tonncs occupies a unique position. Besides, there are vast brackishwater spread areas along the coastline which offer ideal sites for seafamling and coastal mariculture

Observations on the lobsters of Minicoy atoll

The rock-lobsters Panulirus penicillatus, P. homariis and P. versicolor occur in Minicoy. P. versicolor, now the most common, is possibly a recent arrival as this species has not been previously recorded from here. The spatial distribution, social behaviour, local migration on the reef flats, specific habitat selection and juvenile recruitment of the species in the atoll are discussed. P. versicolor, though present all over the reefs in the atoll, shows a marked prefereence to the leeward side. The species is the most common during November- January, when it seems to migrate on to the upper reef flats. The dominant length range then is 160-180 mm. From the length-frequency distribution during this period, it is estimated that the species has a growth rate of about 6 mm TL per month for the first three years, after which there is an apparent retardation of the rate of growth to 4-3 mm per month. It is estimated by extrapolation that P. versicolor may take 10 to 11 years to attain a length of 460 mm, the maximum the species is known to reach

Biology of the Bluepuller, Chromis caeruleus (Cuvier), From Minicoy atoll

Chromis caeruleus, a resident reef fish on live ramose corals forming a dominant component in lagoons through-out Laskhadweep, is an important livebait for tuna. The species is diurnal in habit and is an active zooplankton feeder. Analysis of the gut contents reveals little selectivity in feeding

A critique on the relationship of surface area of live coral with total number of fishes as well as the biomass of fish in a coexisting system of Chromis caeruleus and Dascyllus aruanus (Pomacentridae) at Minicoy atoll

The pomacentrid fishes Chromis caeruleus (Cuvier) and Dascyllus aruanus (Linn.) coexist on ramose live corals without apparently displaying aggressive reactions. The population in a coral colony is of many size groups, an obvious result of continual s ettlement of postlarvae of fishes from plankton, probably a strategy in nature to prevent in breeding in resident fishes. The relationship between the total number of fishes residing on a coral and the upper surface area of the habitat (coral colony) can be expressed as : Y - 0.2117 — 0.000064 X, where Y is the number of fishes per unit area of the coral and X the upper surface area of the coral sampled ; the correlation coefficient (r) being — 0.486. The relationship between the fish biomass and the upper surface area of the habitat can be expressed as : Y = 0.07888 - 0.00005225 X, where Y is the wei^t of fish per unit area of the coral sampled and X is the upper surface area of the coral; the correlation coefficient (r) being —0.99. As indicated by these correlation coefficients, there exists a closer relationship (inverse) between the biomass of fish and the surface area of the microhabitat (live isolate coral) than between the total number of fish and the surface area at a time in a coexisting system of resident reef fishes. The ratio of the fish biomass and the upper surface area of the coral (an index of density of fish) is also found to vary in different samples, within a range of 380.3 to 934.25 cm' of the coral and a fish biomass of 22.42 to 30.87 gm weight of fish sampled. The total length of the fishes ranged from 7 mm to 40 mm in the samples. The ptesratt study also indicates that neither a numerical nor biomass consistency of fishes can be anticipated in a microhabitat over a prolonged time. Both these factors are ever changing as also the area of the living habitat viz. the live coral colony. This is due to the interplay of many natural and artificial factors, such as, continual recruitment of postlarvae, growth of fish at sites, migration and mortality of fishes as well as the partial death or growth of corals that cause a dwindling or expansion of living space for resident fishes. The above factors in nature control the density of fish population in a coral live isolate. The maximum carrying capacity of the habitat perhaps is never allowed to reach so that coexistence is made possible without the fishes displaying apparent agonistic reaction.. However, the present data did not clearly indicate the maximum carrying capacity of unit area of Acropora corymbosa sampled; the systems analysed were in different stages of density level

On an unusual massive recruitment of the reef fish Ctenochaetes strigosus (Bennet) (Perciformes: Acanthuridae) to the Minicoy atoll and its significance

A sudden influx, and subsequent settlement, of C. strigosus in enormous numbers in the lagoon and on reef flats of Minicoy island, where, but for a couple of specimens dealt with by Jones and Kumaran (1980, this species was almost unknown, is reported. The fish, ranging in length from 50 to 82 mm, which had been obviously leading thus far a pelagic life, were in stages past postlarval, and were already in the process of metamorphosing into adult, with gonads in stages up to Stage III maturity

Live-bait resources and development

The success of the pole and line fishery of Lakshadweep depends, among other factors, directly on the availability in sufficient quantities of suitable live-bait fishes around the islands. Information on the live-bait resources of Lakshadweep is limited to a few reports from Minicoy- Jones (1958, 1964) described the fishing method, storage and utilisation of bait fish and Iisted the various species of live-bait fishes of Lakshadweep. Jones (1961 a, 1961 b) has predicted the potentialities of Spratelloides delicatulus and S. japonicus as live-bait for pole and line fishery for skipjack much earlier than mechanised fishing was introduced in the northern islands of Lakshadweep. Thomas (1964) made some observations on the fluctuations in the live-bait fishes at Minicoy. Fluctuations in the seasonal availability of live-baits at Minicoy during the years 1981-85 has been presented by Pillai et al. (1986). However, details of exploited bait fish resources and seasonal abundance of different bait species around the various islands is still lacking

On a new record of Cuvier's beaked whale Ziphius carvirostris from the Indian waters

The Cuvier's beaked whale Ziphius carvirostris Cuvier, 1823 is a rare species mostly leading a solitary life, but is said to be cosmopolitan in distribution. However, this species has been hitherto never recorded from the Indian Ocean from an area ranging from the east coast of South Africa to Tasmania. In view of this topical interest a few notes of a male specimen of this species stranded on the reef flat of Minicoy are provided here

Ecology and biology of the white-tailed Humbug Dascyllus aruanus (Pomacentriade, Pisces) from Minicoy Atoll

The poniacentrid Dascyllus aruanus (Linnaeus) lives among tlie branches of ramose corals throughout the Indo-Padfic along with Chromis caeruleus. Though, both the species prefer to be associated with live coials, D. aruanus can easily adapt to dead coral colonies when live corals become scarce in nature due to large scale death of corals as is observed at Minicoy. D. aruanus is observed to attain a total length of 61 mm at the end of the iirst year and a total of 97.0 mm by the end of the second year of life. This may be the maximum length the species attains at Minicoy. The length-weight relationship shows significant difference between the male and female, hence separate formulae has to be used to determine these relationships as follows. Males .. Log W = —3.676976 + 2.480743,Log L. Females .. Log W = -4.243749 + 2.807415 Log L. The sex ratio for the two year periods of observation is Male : Female = 1:1.61 and 1 :1.35 respectively. The size at first maturity at 50 % level is estimated to be 38 mm. Fecundity ranged from 2,125 to 7,157eggs in an ovary at a time. The individual fish spawns more than once in a year. The breeding season almost extent throughout the year with an active period from April to January. The pelagic phase of the larvae seems to last about 2 weeks. The behaviour and biology of the two co-existing species viz. D. aruamts and Chromis caeruleus display very little difference indicating both species have evolved almost similar adaptations

WORK IN PROCESS OPTIMISATION THROUGH LEAN MANUFACTRING

ABSTRACT Today the global economy has caused a stronger competitive manufacturing environment in all kinds of business. Manufacturing industries face continuous pressure to reduce the price to remain in the market. It eventually results in manufactures need to reduce the profit margins in order to keep a share of the market. The objective of this paper to find the work in process for the optimal size using lean Techniques in a multiproduct single conveyor assembly line of a leading Two Wheeler Manufactures in south India. It is useful to map the dynamics of the supply chain focusing on how the demand information is passed from the final customer, back to the material suppliers and manufactures inside the company. So in this paper attempt has been made to find work in process and reduction of value in terms of Rupees from the current process to the proposed process. A mathematical model developed using general inventory cost model to quantify the Optimal Work In Process for the entire product range in Engine assembly line. Also numerical example is done to demonstrate the mathematical model with the available data. The mathematical results are very much encouraging and it calculated as 40 % reduction in work in process over the current work in process. KEY WORDS: WIP, optimal WIP, inventory cost method, change over time, multi product single conveyor assembly line

Induction of division and differentiation of somatic embryos in the leaf epidermis of Gaillardia picta

Somatic embroys and subsequent plant regeneration were obtained from isolated leaf epidermis of Gaillardia picta. Abaxial and adaxial epidermal peels (monolayer) from 45 days old aseptic seedlings were isolated and segments measuring 5 mm × 3 mm were cultured on B5 basal medium supplemented with various growth regulators such as naphthaleneacetic acid or indolebutyric acid and benzylaminopurine or kinetin. Within 12 h of culture the epidermal cells showed receding of cytoplasm from the walls. After 48 h of incubation 3 or 4 localized zones, each consisting of 3-8 cells that accumulated cytoplasm and stained densely, were observed. Mitotic divisions occurred in these zones on day 3 of culture and localized masses of callus were observed in 95% of the cultures after 10 days. In another 5 days, the callus differentiated somatic embryos or roots, depending on the growth regulators and their concentration in the medium