Perspective on coastal aquaculture in India

The slow growth rate in marine capture fisheries of the coastal sector world over, capital intensive and risk prone deep sea and oceanic harvest coupled with great demand for target groups for domestic and export markets have created a pressing necessity to evolve viable options for aquaculture of most wanted species. Although the aquaculture is rapidly growing in the Asia-Pacific region, its techno-economic and commercial viability in Indian condition is yet to be demonstrated and practiced except in the case of some shrimps and bivalves. Evenlhough the country is blessed with vast cultivable coastal and brackish water areas and with rich potentially cultivable candidate species for farming (20 species of finfishes, 29 crustaceans, 1 7 molluscs, 7 seaweeds and many other species of anciUiary resources), we have yet to go a long way to achieve our targets in aquaculture. The paper reviews the R&D works carried out by CMFRI for crustacean, molluscan, finfish mariculture, seaweed culture and their developmental programmes required to be undertaken in the future

Studies on the biochemical composition of the short neck clam, Paphia malabarica from Ashtamudi estuary, Southwest Coast of India

Considering the importance of bivalves as a source of protein rich food for man, there has been considerable work on the biochemical composition of commercially important species from all over the worl

Heavy landings of whelks, Babylonia spp. in trawl catches off Quilon, southwest coast of India

Whelks are recently being exploited from east and west coasts of India on a commercial basis for meat export trade. Babylonia spirata and B. zeylanica are the two species of whelks which form bycatch of shrimp trawlers in Sakthikulangara-Neendakara area along the southwest coast of India and the former species contributes to the fishery along Annappanpettai, near Portonovo along the southeast coast of India

Octopus — a potential marine resource from southwest coast of India

Octopus fishery has a long history in Japan and some European countries whereas in India exploitation has just been initiated and they are landed as bycatch in shrimp trawlers from southwest coast and east coast. The present study indicates that octopus landings are showing an increasing trend along the southwest coast of India. Octopus membaranaceous the dominant octopus species landed at Cochin Fisheries Harbour. Octopus lobensis the dominant octopus species landed at Neendakara harbour. Cistopus indicus and Octopus dollfusi, formed about 3% each of the total ocotopus landed at both the centres. Another Octopus sp. with extremely long fourth arm, about 85 to 87% of the toted length was observed in stray numbers in Cochin Fisheries Harbour landings. There is good demand for frozen octopus for export in recent years. As the demand is increasing, over exploitation due to increased fishing pressure in this area is possible which may ultimately lead to stock depletion. It is suggested that measures should be taken at this stage itself for rational exploitation of this resource. Detailed studies on the distribution, biology and population dynamics is essential to evolve effective fishery management measures for Judicious exploitation of this resource

The edible oyster culture

In 1970s the CMFR Institute initiated oyster culture through rack and tray method. Large scale spat collection, preparation of spat collectors, season and seed availability were studied. In 1980, a hatchery was set up with annual production capacity of one million edible oyster seed and the techniques involved in hatchery system were standardized. The seed were supplied to other centres of this Institute and Gujarat Fisheries Department. The production rates for rack and tray, string and stake method were estimated as 120 t and 22 t respectively. As part of extension, one lab to land programme, 8 training programmes, one workshop and a summer insitute were conducted. Results of experimental oyster culture work carried out at Mandapam, Madras, Bheemunipatnam, Kakinada, Mulki, Dharmadam, Ashtamudi and Cochin backwaters are given. Rearing 600 strings in 0.04 ha at Ashtamudi and harvesting 2.5t oysters pointed out 44.8% return with estimated production of 80- 105t/ha. Further research priorities on oyster culture aspects are indicated

Linguistic Adaptation and Psychometric Properties of Tamil Version of General Oral Health Assessment Index‑Tml

Background: Oral health has an impact on quality of life hence for research purpose validation of a Tamil version of General Oral Health Assessment Index would enable it to be used as a valuable tool among Tamil speaking population.Aim: In this study, we aimed to assess the psychometric properties of translated Tamil version of General Oral Health Assessment Index (GOHAI‑Tml).Subjects and Methods: Linguistic adaptation involved forward and backward blind translation process. Reliability was analyzed using test‑retest, Cronbach alpha, and split half reliability. Inter‑item and item‑total correlation were evaluated using Spearman rank correlation. Convenience sampling was done, and 265 consecutive patients aged 20–70 years attending the outpatient department were recruited. Subjects were requested to fill a self‑reporting questionnaire along with Tamil GOHAI version. Clinical examination was done on the same visit. Concurrent validity was measured by assessing the relationship between GOHAI scores and self‑perceived oral health and general health status, satisfaction with oral health, need for dental treatment and esthetic satisfaction. Discriminant validity was evaluated by comparing the GOHAI scores with the objectively assessed clinical parameters. Exploratory factor analysis was done to examine the factor structure.Results: Mean GOHAI‑Tml was 52.7 (6.8, range 22–60, median 54). The mean number of negative impacts was 2 (2.4, range 0–11, median 1). The Spearman rank correlation for test‑retest ranged from 0.8 to 0.9 (P < 0.001) for all the 12 items between visits. The Cronbach alpha for 265 samples was 0.8 suggesting good internal consistency and homogeneity between items. Item scale correlation ranged from 0.4 to 0.8 (P < 0.001). Concurrent and discriminant validity was established. Principal component analysis resulted in extraction of four factors which together accounted for 66.4% (7.9/12) variance.Conclusion: GOHAI‑Tml has shown acceptable psychometric properties, so that it can be used as an efficient tool in identifying the impact of oral health on quality of life among the Tamil speaking population.Keywords: General oral health assessment index, Linguistic adaptation, Oral health‑related quality of life, Psychometric properties, Reliability, Validit

A check-list of gastropods landed at Sakthikulangara- Neendakara area

Many commercially Important gastropods are landed as by-catch of shrimp trawlers at Sakthlkulangara-Neendakara area along with prawns, fishes, crustaceans and cephalopods. Recent observations on the landings of moUuscan shells indicate that 29 species of gastropods and a few bivalves are landed as by-catch of shrimp trawlers and there is an increasing trend in the quantity landed Taking into consideration the importance of these groups, a check-list of gastropods landed, their abundance and common names are give

Mussel culture in backwaters of Kasaragod district, Kerala

Mussel culture is increasingly getting Popular in Padanna and Cheruvattur Panchayats In Hosdurg Taluk of Kasaragod district in Kerala, By virtue of the popularisation efforts made by the CMFR Institute. Initially this low cost technology Of farming was transferred to five groups with 15 To 21 farmers at Cheruvattur and Vallyaparamba, Mostly women groups

On the Systematics and identity of four pelagic Sharks of the family Carcharhinidae from Indian region

Four species of pelagic sharks of the family Carcharhinidae belonging to the genera ScoUodon, Loxodon and Rhizoprionodon viz., ScoUodon laticauJus MuUer and Henle, Loxodon macrorhinus MuUer and Henle, Rhizoprionodon (Rhizoprionodon) acutus RuppeJl and Rhizoprionodon (Protozygaena) oUgoUnx Springer which constitute a good fishery along the west and southeast coasts of India are described. Since there is confusion about the systematic position and identity of these species, an attempt is made to give detailed description of all the four species collected from different centres of both the coasts

Clam resource in the Astamudi Lake, a tropical estuary in sourthern India: Managment and conservation concerns

Clam resources form the livelihood of more than five hundred families in and around Ashtamudi Lake, situated between latitude 8°45' - 9°28' N and 76°28 - 77" 17' E. The alarming increase in the exploitation of Paphia malabarica in the recent years forced the Government of Kerala to impose ban on the fishing activities during its breeding season based on the recommendations of CMFRI in 1993