Qualitative and quantitative distribution of planktonic cephalopods in the Exclusive Economic Zone of the west coast of India

The cephalopod larvae and juveniles in plankton samples collected during the first 10 cruises of FORV Sagar Sampada off the west coast of India from February to December, 1985 have been studied for their qualitative and quantitative distribution. The samples were obtained in Bongo net operations carried out in an extensive area covering Lat. 4° to 23° N and Long. 65° to 77° E. Out of the total 258 stations sampled, cephalopods were obtained in 110 stations in varying numbers. The estimated number of cephalopods per haul ranged between 1 and 112. Of the total number of hauls in which cephalopods obtained, 51% occurred in night hauls and the rest in day hauls

Growth and mortality of the Indian squid (Loligo duvauceli) off Cochin, India

The squid (Loligo duvauceli) is caught as by-catch in the shallow water shrimp fishery along the coast of Kerala (India). It accounts for the entire squid landings in the area. Length-frequency data, collected by sexes during 1981- 84 were used in the studie

Preliminary studies on the cephalopods collected from the Deep Scattering Layers of the Indian Exclusive Economic Zone and adjacent seas

Results of the preliminary studies on the cephalopods collected from the operation of Isaacs - Kidd Mid water Trawl net in the Deep Scattering Layers of the Indian Exclusive Economic Zone and adjacent seas during the cruises 1-15 of FORV Sagar Sampada are presented in this paper. Spatial, monthly and seasonal distributions of cephalopod biomass and its abundance in the DSL have been discussed. Differences in the biomass during day and night periods are also given

Redescription of the sand shark Negaprion odontaspis (Fowler) obtained from Minicoy atoll, Lakshadweep

Negaprion odontaspis belonging to the Family Carcharhinidae is reported for the first time after its original discovery, based on a juvenile female specimen of 551 mm length obtained from the Minicoy lagoon of the Laccadive Archipelago. The specimen is redescribed and illustrated here

On some new records of crabs and lobsters from Minicoy, Lakshadweep (Laccadives)

New records of brachyuran crabs such as Grapsus albolineatus Lamarclc, Cardisoma carnifex (Herbst), and lobsters Panibacus aniarcticus (Lund) and Pamlirus homarus (Linnaeus) from Minicoy Island together with the morphological variations observed in the spiny lobster- Pamlirus penicillatus (Olivier) are reported

Assessment of clam resources in the estuaries of Dakshina Kannada

Clam resources in all the eight estuaries of Dakshina Kannada, viz., the Nethravathi, Gurpur, Mulky, Udyavara, Swirna, SIti, Coondapoor and Uppunda were assessed during 1984. The total clam resources 'standing stock) of these estuaries are estimated at 4900 t. About 92% of this resource was found in the Mulky estuary. The clam resources were negligible and formed less than 1% in the Udyavara, Swarna, Siti, Coondapoor and Uppunda. Meratrix casta js the chief species followed by Paphia malabarica and Villorita cyprinoides. Species-wise distribution of clams in different estuaries along with the environmental parameters and biological characteristics of different clam species are presented. Information on the utilisation and marketing is also given

Fishery, population characteristics and stock assessment of cuttlefishes, Sepia aculeata and Sepia pharaonis at Kakinada along the east coast of India

Cuttlefishes were exploited exclusively by trawls along the coast. Growth, recruitment, mortality and exploitation rates of Sepia aculeata and Sepia pharaonis were studied. Fishery of the former was supported mainly by zero year and the latter by zero and one + age groups. Both attain sexual maturity during the first year itself and spawn during August-March with peak during November-December. Natural mortality of S.aculeata was 2.22, fishing mortality 2.34 and total mortality 4.56

Oceanic squids

The various species of oceanic squids distributed in the Indian Ocean especially in the Exclusive Economic Zone of India and adjacent waters and their importance form the point of view of exploitation are discussed. The need for conducting experimental fishing and use of suitable fishing and drift net fishing for developing a fishery for oceanic squids is emphasized