Evaluation of Compliance of Marine Fisheries of Kerala with Article 8 of FAO CCRF

It is necessary to evaluate the compliance of local fisheries with relevant provisions of the FAO Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries (CCRF) which is an indication of how far the code has been implemented. The present study focused on applications of the Code at the grassroot level by local fisheries m anagement authorities in marine fisheries of Kerala with reference to guidelines for fishing operations (Article 8 of FAO CCRF). A question- naire-based approach was used to demonstrate the compliance with the same. Study on marine fisheries of Kerala showed compliance on many areas of Article 8 like documentation of catch and effort, registration and licensing of fishing vessels, safety of fishers and insurance coverage. However, mesh size regulations as per section 4 of Kerala Marine Fisheries Regulation Act (KMFRA), 1980 were not followed. Other areas where improvement is required include Monitoring, Control and Surveillance (MCS), fishing gear selectivity and energy optimization. An overall 54% score was obtained for compliance of marine fisheries of Kerala with Article 8 of the code

Proceedings of the Workshop on Challenges, Opportunities and Constraints faced by Women in Agriculture and Allied Industries

Proceedings of the Workshop on Challenges, Opportunities and Constraints faced by Women in Agriculture and Allied Industrie

Variation in morphometric and meristic traits of Aspidoparia morar from Brahmaputra and Barak Rivers of Assam, India

The minor carp, Aspidoparia morar is a benthopelagic fish belonging to the sub-family Danioninae under the family Cyprinidae. It has emerged as the single most dominant species in the river Brahmaputra in Assam. In the present study, 240 specimens were collected from Guwahati and Tezpur in the Brahmaputra River and Silchar in the Barak River to investigate the morphometric and meristic variation among the populations. For this a total of 20 morphometric traits and 11 meristic traits were studied. The mean lengths for most of the morphometric traits were higher for the Barak River except eye diameter, inter orbital length and anal fin length which were significantly higher on the Brahmaputra River, while the post orbital length and pelvic fin length were found to be almost equal. The regressions of standard length with all the morphometric traits except pelvic fin length, pelvic fin base, pectoral fin length, dorsal fin length, anal fin length, pre orbital length, post orbital length, inter orbital length and eye diameter showed significant variation between the rivers. Two meristic traits viz. branched rays in anal fin and gill rakers on the first gill arch also showed significant variation in the samples of the rivers

Fish Community Structure and Trophic Status - A Measure of Ecological Degradation: A Case Study From Powai Lake Mumbai

Powai lake, a monomictic shallow lake, presenting some characteristics typical of a progressive trophic state specifically the permanent turbid water, the recurrent occurrence of cyanobacterial blooms which occasionally leads to large fish kills and the reduction in biodiversity. The study was carried out to understand the ecological degradation of Powai lake by using the abiotic and biotic factors. Twenty-four fish species were recorded and the fish yield was found to be 98 kg ha yr where -1 -1 here the actual potential lies about 363 kg ha-1 yr-1. The diet composition of 10 of the most abundant fishes in the lake revealed that, there were about 13 major food items from the gut contents, includes phytoplankton green algae, phytoplankton blue-green algae, diatoms, cladocerans, copepods, benthic algae, benthic weeds, macrophytes, detritus, fish eggs and larvae, shrimps, fish scales and insects parts. The Food Richness index (N) varied from 12 (Heteropneustes fossilis) to 29 (Oreochromis mossambicus), Diet Breadth (D) from 0.12 (Heteropneustes fossilis) to 0.77 (Oreochromis mossambicus) and the Gut repletion index (GRI) as 100% for all the species. Most of the fish species in the lake were either planktivores or detritivores with high feeding avidity and trophic adaptability, hence are capable of altering diet according to availability. The estimated trophic level indicates that almost all the fishes in the lake depend on primary producers or consumers as their diet. The dominance of omnivores and planktivores and the submissive occurrence of carnivores in the lake indicates the rampant ecological degradation of the lake

Length-weight relationship and condition factor of Dawkinsia filamentosa (Valenciennes, 1844) in different aquatic habitats

The growth rate of a species in any aquatic environment is an indicator of the water quality of the system. In the current study, the Length-weight relationship (LWR) and the condition factor of Dawkinsia filamentosa from various aquatic ecosystems especially lotic, lentic and brackish lentic systems were compared. It was observed that growth rate of the fish was more in brackish lentic systems. The study showed that already reported growth rate (b) of the species in brackish lentic systems is around 3.273 indicating proximity towards the isometric growth pattern as compared to the growth rate in reservoirs (2.3184) and that in lentic systems (3.116) obtained from present study. Similar studies supplemented with environmental variables can be used to study the health status of the ecosystem. The best system suitable for the adaptive growth of the species can be ascertained only after a holistic approach involving environmental variables

Towards attaining sustainable fishing operations in Kerala

493-496Kerala is one of the major marine fish producing states of India contributing about 20% of the marine fish landings. FAO Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries (CCRF) is a tool which aims to attain sustainability through responsible fishing practices. Evaluation of compliance of marine fisheries of Kerala with provisions of Article 8 (Fishing Operations) of CCRF is an indicator of the level of implementation of the Code. In the present study, a self assessment questionnaire-based approach developed by FAO was used to gather information on the relevant sections of Article 8 of the Code from the selected experts using Google survey form for evaluation. The review of marine fisheries sector as per Article 8 of the code was done by 29 experts and an overall score of 45 percent, below the satisfactory level was obtained. This evaluation would facilitate State Regulatory authorities to suggest measures for enforcement, conservation and sustainable management of marine fisheries of Kerala

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Not AvailableIt is necessary to evaluate the compliance of local fisheries with relevant provisions of the FAO Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries (CCRF) which is an indication of how far the code has been implemented. The present study focused on applications of the Code at the grassroot level by local fisheries m anagement authorities in marine fisheries of Kerala with reference to guidelines for fishing operations (Article 8 of FAO CCRF). A question- naire-based approach was used to demonstrate the compliance with the same. Study on marine fisheries of Kerala showed compliance on many areas of Article 8 like documentation of catch and effort, registration and licensing of fishing vessels, safety of fishers and insurance coverage. However, mesh size regulations as per section 4 of Kerala Marine Fisheries Regulation Act (KMFRA), 1980 were not followed. Other areas where improvement is required include Monitoring, Control and Surveillance (MCS), fishing gear selectivity and energy optimization. An overall 54% score was obtained for compliance of marine fisheries of Kerala with Article 8 of the code.Not Availabl

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Not AvailableMacrobrachium indicum, a south Indian freshwater prawn described from Vellayani lake, Kerala is closely related to Koua river prawn, M. australe which in turn resembles M. ustulatum. Morphologically the three species pose difficulties in identification. A comparison of morphological characters of M. indicum, M. australe and M. ustulatum has been made in the paper. The COI sequence data for the species has been generated and made comparison with the existing COI barcode sequences for M. australe and showed clear difference between the species, thereby established the taxonomic validity of the species. Alignment of the present study sequences with reported sequences of M. australe revealed homologous region of 434 bp. Out of 434 nucleotides, the number of conserved and variable nucleotides were 313 and 121, respectively. Based on the P value (0.002) of Mann-Whitney U test, it was observed that the GC content at codon third base position between M. indicum and M. australe is significantly different. Because of the complexity of the species group a type material is highly necessary for confirmation in future studies and since holotype is irrecoverably lost, a neotype has been selected from the present collection and deposited in the CMFRI Museum at Kochi, Kerala with accession number: ED.2.2.1.8.Not Availabl