Fishery and Biological Aspects of Yellowfin Tuna Thunnus albacares along Andhra Coast, India

A potentially rich fishing ground for yellowfin tuna Thunnus albacares discovered off northern Andhra Pradesh along the east coast of India at depths of 200m and more is being gainfully exploited by the local fishers since 2002. Hooks and lines as well as trolls operated mostly from non-mechanized crafts (catamaran) are the major exploitation methods used. The mechanized sector ventured into oceanic tuna fishing during 2006 with the conversion of a few existing mechanized trawlers into long liners and for large scale commercial exploitation of yellowfin tuna in this region. The average annual (2004-2006) landing of tuna by the catamaran at Visakhapatnam was 1,515t. A wide size group represented the fishery with the fork length of T.albacares measuring from 25 cm to 190 cm with major modes at 90 and 130 cm. Fishes above 80 cm were found to be mature and the size at first maturity was estimated to be between 90-95 cm. Males were dominant with a male: female ratio of 1: 0.58. The length weight relationship is given by the formula W= 0.008634L 3.12. Food contents consisted of a variety of prey animals. Fishes (bony pelagic fishes), crustaceans (crabs and shrimps) and molluscs (squids) were the major prey groups. The fishery is still in its infancy and more research has to be carried out to understand its biology and formulate proper management measures to sustainably harvest this stock

Visual quality testing method used in the field for grading yellowfin tuna

The yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares) popularly known as the ‘chicken of the sea’ is harvested along the Indian coast mainly with an eye on the export market. Though the fish meat both in fresh and canned form has a demand in domestic markets in some states, the higher value it fetches in the export market prompts the fishermen to mainly aim at exports. However, certain minimal conditions of fish quality have to be ascertained and certified before it is accepted for export. The south-east Asian countries are the main market for tunas and tuna meat is consumed both in raw as well as processed forms (canned, fish fingers, fish powder, fish sauce etc.

आँध्रप्रदेश की वेलापवर्ती मात्स्यिकी संपदाएं

आँध्रप्रदेश की वेलापवर्ती मात्स्यिकी संपदाए

Age, growth and population structure of the yellowfin tuna Thunnus albacares (Bonnaterre, 1788) exploited along the east coast of India

Lengths measurements of 6,758 yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares), landed by hook and line operators off eastern Indian coast were taken (20–185 cm FL) from 2003 to 2009. Age and growth were estimated using length based methods. The von Bertalanffy growth parameters estimated were L∝ = 197.42 cm, annual K= 0.30 and t0= -0.1157. Mortality estimates were M= 0.48 and Z= 0.71 and F= 0.23 with the exploitation ratio E= 0.32. Growth was rapid during the initial years when the annual growth increment was as high as 36.6 cm during the first year then which to as low as 3.3 cm in the tenth year. The fish attained a fork length of 56.2 cm at the end of one year. Size at maturity (87.5 cm) corresponded to an age of 1.7 years and the oldest individual in the sample was 9+ years (186 cm). The annual mean lengths varied from 80.6 cm to 115.3 cm with an average mean length of 101.9 cm. The fishery comprised of mostly adults with 64% comprising of fishes larger than size at first maturity

Feeding strategies and diet composition of yellowfin tuna Thunnus albacares (Bonnaterre, 1788) caught along Andhra Pradesh, east coast of India

The food of yellowfin tuna, Thunnus albacares caught by longlines off the east coast of India was studied in detail. Contents of 146 non-empty stomachs were analysed for the Index of relative importance (IRI) and prey specific abundance. T. albacares caught by the longline were found to be non-selective generalist feeders, foraging on micronektonic, pelagic or benthic organisms available in the epipelagic waters. Teleost fish, crabs, squids and shrimps were the major component of food items. Priacanthus hamrur was the most preyed upon fish with a high IRI (40.5%) followed by the swimming crab Charybdis smithii (23.9%), the squid Sthenoteuthis oualaniensis (15.5%) and prawn Solenocera hextii (10.3%). Being a large pelagic predator, it formed an important link in the food chain of the ocean system and also formed a good collector of the less exploited micronekton organisms of the deep scattering layer (DSL)

Mariculture Research under the Postgraduate Programme in Mariculture Part 4

Mariculture Research under the Postgraduate Programme in Maricultur

Distribution extension of mangrove box jellyfish, Tripedalia cystophora along the eastern Arabian Sea

A regular microplankton sampling in the estuarine stretches of Udyavara in Karnataka, has revealed the presence of Tripedalia cystophora Conant, 1897 a cubozoan jellyfish with cube shaped medusa and known for their potent venom. This estuarine stretch of Udyavara is known for the clam fishery and its proximity to the Malpe Fisheries Harbour. The study confirms the occurrence of Tripedalia cystophora Conant, 1897 in the estuaries of Karnataka and the northward extension in the distribution of this species along the estuaries of eastern Arabian Sea. Among the 40 species of box jellyfish described around the globe Tripedalia cystophora Conant, 1897 is one of the widely distributed small box jellyfish and to the best of our knowledge, no box jellyfishes have been recorded from the estuaries of Karnataka until this report

Efficacy of plant extracts against the larvae of filariasis vector, culex quinquefasciatus say and the dengue vector aedes aegypti linn at Mysore

Mosquito control has been facing backlashes because of the emergence of resistant varieties against synthetic insecticides. Hence biologically active environment friendly insecticides of plant origin have received renewed attention in recent years as agents for vector control. The present investigation highlights the larvicidal efficacy of petroleum ether, chloroform, ethyl acetate, methanol and acetone extracts of Heracleum rigens seeds against 2nd, 3rd and 4th instar larvae of the laboratory reared Culex quinquefasciatus and Aedes aegypti. The larval susceptibility tests were conducted following the WHO standard procedure (WHO, 2005). The LC50 values of Heracleum rigens for Culex quinquefasciatus and Aedes aegypti respectively are 7.19 and 40.64 ppm against 2nd instar; 24.80 and 91.55 ppm against 3rd instar and 69.25 and 113.69 ppm against 4th instar larvae. The results suggest that 2nd instar larvae were significantly susceptible compared to 3rd and 4th instar larvae and that Heracleum rigens may contain promising larvicides against different mosquito species

A proprietary black cumin oil extract (Nigella sativa) (BlaQmax®) modulates stress-sleep-immunity axis safely: Randomized double-blind placebo-controlled study

ObjectiveStress, sleep, and immunity are important interdependent factors that play critical roles in the maintenance of health. It has been established that stress can affect sleep, and the quality and duration of sleep significantly impact immunity. However, single drugs capable of targeting these factors are limited because of their multi-targeting mechanisms. The present study investigated the influence of a proprietary thymoquinone-rich black cumin oil extract (BCO-5) in modulating stress, sleep, and immunity.MethodsA randomized double-blinded placebo-controlled study was carried out on healthy volunteers with self-reported non-refreshing sleep issues (n = 72), followed by supplementation with BCO-5/placebo at 200  mg/day for 90  days. Validated questionnaires, PSQI and PSS, were employed for monitoring sleep and stress respectively, along with the measurement of cortisol and melatonin levels. Immunity markers were analyzed at the end of the study.ResultsIn the BCO-5 group, 70% of the participants reported satisfaction with their sleep pattern on day 7 and 79% on day 14. Additionally, both inter- and intra- group analyses of the total PSQI scores and component scores (sleep latency, duration, efficiency, quality, and daytime dysfunction) on days 45 and 90 showed the effectiveness of BCO-5 in the improvement of sleep (p < 0.05). PSS-14 analysis revealed a significant reduction in stress, upon both intra (p < 0.001) and inter-group (p < 0.001) comparisons. The observed reduction in stress among the BCO-5 group, with respect to the placebo, was significant with an effect size of 1.19 by the end of the study (p < 0.001). A significant correlation was also observed between improved sleep and reduced stress as evident from PSQI and PSS. Furthermore, there was a significant modulation in melatonin, cortisol, and orexin levels. Hematological/immunological parameters further revealed the immunomodulatory effects of BCO-5.ConclusionBCO-5 significantly modulated the stress-sleep-immunity axis with no side effects and restored restful sleep

Investigating violence against _Accredited Social Health Activists_ (ASHAs): a mixed methods study from rural North Karnataka, India

# Background Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs) are female community health workers who primarily work to improve local reproductive, maternal, neonatal, and child health across India. As ASHAs often hail from patriarchal environments and are positioned at the bottom of the healthcare hierarchy, they are vulnerable to experiencing different forms of violence from the various individuals that they interact with. There is a gap in knowledge about the violence ASHAs experience. The purpose of this study was to assess the working condition of ASHAs, the extent and types of violence they experienced, and the corresponding perpetrators of this violence in two districts of Northern Karnataka. # Methods Using a mixed methods approach, we first surveyed 396 ASHAs to characterize their experiences of violence. We then conducted in-depth interviews with 16 ASHAs to elaborate on survey findings. Data was analyzed using quantitative prevalence statistics and qualitative thematic analysis. # Results The majority of ASHAs reported economic (88%) or emotional violence (73%), while many ASHAs reported sexual (32%) or physical violence (26%). ASHAs reported high levels of economic violence from their beneficiaries and their beneficiaries’ families (64%), emotional violence from their co-workers (44%), and physical and sexual violence from their husbands (17% and 12% respectively). Mixed methods findings revealed that violence was often rooted from their low positioning on the healthcare hierarchy, a lack of respect from community members, and limited autonomy at home. # Conclusions Evidence from this study suggests that violence perpetrated against ASHAs is highly prevalent, diverse in forms, and often arises from the ASHA’s immediate circles. Interventions aiming to decrease violence against ASHA workers requires multi-level approach, with collaborative components empowering ASHAs, sensitizing ASHA families and co-workers, implementing regulations at the health facility level, and increasing community-wide respect for ASHAs and their role in the health care