Estimates of optimum fleet size for the exploited Indian shelf fisheries

A characteristic feature of marine fish production in India is its annual fluctuations, as vividly shown by the statistics of production for the past four decades. Marine fisheries still remain open access and suffer from overcapitalization. About 2,43,000 fishing vessels (1,82,096 artisanal craft, 26,171 motorised craft and 34,571 mechanised craft) exploit this area, where the estimated annual potential is 2.2 million, tonnes. A conservative estimate of investment on fishing implements (craft as well as gear), at current prices is about Rs. 33.4 billion, but the return per unit investment seems hardly viable. Unhealthy competition and unregulatedfishing may decimate the exploited stocks and therefore, the question of decidingthe optimum size of fishing fleets which wouldallow sustainable yields becomes very relevant

Studies on the fishery of the penaeid prawn Metapenaeus affinis (Milne Edwards) Along the Mangalore coast

Tbe fishery anl certain features of the population structures of M. affiMs caught by the trawlers fran 1962 through 1971 are reported. The fishery was chiefly i^odal and was dominated by large size groups early in the season and smaller size groups later. The maximum number of broods entering the fishery was observed to be four. Age and growth studies indicated that tbe males attain a length of about 95, 140 and 160 mm and females, lOO, 143 and 170 mm at the end of one, two and three years, respectively. The miniminn size at first maturity for males was found tp be 116 mm. The average annual instantaneous fishing mwtality was found to be 3.76 for males and 2.50 for females between one and two year olds

Demersal Fish Assemblages of the Southwest Coast of India

Demersal surveys from the southwest coast of India were analyzed to determine the general pattern of distribution of demersal species assemblages in the area. Season¬ality is pronounced, indicating three major periods, pre-monsoon, monsoon and post-monsoon. Each of the periods is characterized by different oceanographic circulation patterns that mainly determine the pattern of distribution of species assemblages. Spatial analysis confirmed that the Wadge Bank has the highest po¬tential for producing good quality fish. Region-wise analysis of data indicated that maximum effort and highest landings are from the known grounds along the south¬west coast, although certain northern areas were also found to be fairly productiv

LIPOMA DISSEMINATUM

A 46-year-old man of medium built was presented with a history of multiple subcutaneous nodules of varying sizes mainly on the back that began to appear since 5 years. It was also found that he is suffering from asymptomatic Hepatitis B since 3 years and was advised to take Liv.52 HB by a local physician. There is no familial history of similar condition. Physical examination revealed that nodules are painless, mobile, soft to touch, with a maximum diameter of 30 cm, most of which were located on the back and an uncommon distribution of lipomas all over the body. Patient’s lipid profile was normal. The case was diagnosed by the modern physicians and advised surgical excision of the lipoma. But the patient was uninterested to undergo the surgical excision. He reported at the OPD of Swami Vivekanand Ayurvedic Panchakarma hospital, Dilshad Garden, New Delhi in the month of Sept 2014.

Marine Fisheries along the Southwest Coast of India

Marine fisheries production in India has increased from 0.5 million t in 1950 to 2.47 million t in 1997. The gross value of fisheries landings in India was US$2.37 billion in 1997. The contribution of fisheries to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) has risen from 0.7% in 1980 - 81 to 1.2% in 1994 - 95. The contribution to agricultural GDP has risen from 1.9% to 4%. Fisheries production also plays a critical role in food security and livelihood in rural area

Trophic Model of the Coastal Fisheries Ecosystem of the Southwest Coast of India

The Ecopath approach and software were used to construct a trophic model of the coastal fisheries ecosystem of the southwest (SW) coast of India. The model consisted of 11 ecological groups and used estimated landings from all areas along the southwest coast (based on the sample surveys conducted by Coastal Marine Fisheries Research Institute for the years 1994, 1995 and 1996). The trophic model suggests high catch levels, particularly for the large and medium predators, demersal feeders and detritivores. The biomass estimates in the trophic model were comparable to the biomass estimates from trawl surveys based on the swept area method for the southwest coast

Prawn fishery of Alleppey coast during the S.W. monsoons of 1972-1976

The annual total catch of prawns showed wide fluctuations. The catch per unit effort varied considerably from month to month of the same season and also duting the corresponding months of different seasons. The prawn catch was mainly constituted by Metapenaeus dobsoni (Miers). June-July months were more productive on account of recruitment of more individuals belonging to higher size groups. The monthly average mean sizes of M. dobsoni showed great disparity, ranging between 75.2 mm and 91.5 mm for males and 81.3 mm and 103.4 mm for females. In the species, males were found in a higher proportion than females in lower size groups, but females occurred in higher proportions in higher size groups. The recruitment of mature females into the fishery was quite irregular throughout the seasons of different years under study. The analysis of stomac

Stock assessment of the Indian oil-sardinella (Sardinella longiceps) off the West Coast of India

The Indian oil-sardinella (Sardinella longiceps Val .) has traditionally played a critical role in the marine fishery economics of India, and in particular in the State of Kerala. It's production on the west coast of India exhibits large fluctuations over the years, though it continues to be commercially the most important and abundant pelagic resource (Table 1). These fluctuations have attracted the attention of many research workers. As early as 1910 Hornell attributed them to changes in diatom production or food availability to the fry and the prevalence of favourable hydrological conditions. Kesteven (1967) was of the view that the fluctuations are related to shifts in the migratory path of the fish, causing variations in the accessibility of the stocks to fishing due to the limited range of the fishing operations

Emerging Pattern of Exploitation of the Marine Fishery Resources of the Inshore Waters of India with Particular Reference to Low Energy Fishing

Marine fish production has registered an average annual growth rate of 9.8%. The unusual abundance of pelagic resources like oil sardine and mackerel in 1989 and a consistently increasing trend in the yield of carangids have been also responsible for this increased production. Introduction of trawling in early seventies gave a sudden upward push in the production and it got stabilized

On the prawn fishery by trawlers off Purakad, Sw coast, during 1972-76

The total catches indicated that the prawn fishery off Purakad was on a steadily declining trend from 1972, except for 1974, the total catch of over 2000 t in 1972 declining to less than 200 t in 1976. Though quantitatively all the species were heavily suffering the decline, with the relative proportion more steeply declining, from 29% in 72 to 6% in 76, P. indicus seems to be the species that was most affected; and M. dobsoni, increasing from 52% in 72 to 72% in 76, the least