Bumper landings of Abalistes stellatus (Lacepede. 1798)

Although trigger fishes are obtained in stray numbers during trawl catches, unusually large specimens are observed in the long trip trawlers operating at 60-100 mts depth. The size ranged from 38 to 43 cm and the catch from 50 to 100 kg/boat. A record landing of about 185.5 tonnes was estimated during the year 2000 at Veraval. The samples collected on 24.11.2000 were identified as the starry triggerfish, Abalistes stellatus (Lacepede, 1798)

Monsoon fishery of juvenile ginger prawns at Little Rann of Kutch, Gujarat in relation to environmental parameters

Juveniles of ginger prawn, Metapenaeus kutchensis (George, George and Rao, 1963), form monsoon fishery in shallow estuarine waters of the Little Rann of Kutch. The catch data were collected from Tikar, Mandrakhi, Cherowari and Surajbari landing centres during 2004 to 2009. The annual average catch was 2406 t, of which the bulk was contributed by Mandrakhi and Tikar. The catch correlated well with the amount of rainfall (r = 0.97). The length-weight relationships were expressed as: Log W = -2.367 + 3.1204 log TL for males (r = 0.81) and Log W = -2.868 + 3.7098 log TL for females (r = 0.88). All the water quality parameters including ammonium nitrogen, nitrate nitrogen and phosphate phosphorus were within safe limits and congenial for growth of ginger prawn juveniles and post-larvae. The water and sediment bacteriology revealed that both proteolytic and lipolytic bacteria were present in considerable quantities for efficient recycling. The chemical and biological parameters of water apart from monsoon rains, appear to contribute to the rapid growth of this species from post-larvae to juveniles

Improved mechanisation in dolnetting along the Saurashtra coast

The dolnetters of Jaffrabad, Rajapara and Nawabunder until 2000 were using engine drive for transport and other fishing operations (shooting, piling and hauling). This was done manually and required 6-9 persons per trip with increased effort and reduced catches which necessitated multiday operations and multinet/multihaul operations

Rare record of rainbow runner Elegatis bipinnulata in trawl catches of Veraval

A small quantity of the carangid rainbow runner Elegatis bipinnulata which can easily be mistaken to be a longer mackerel or seer fish was landed on 23.11.2000 at Bhidia trawl landing centre. This species had no scutes on the lateral line, instead had pored scales with rainbow like colour pattern over the body, shape very much resembled to that of Sconiberomoras guttatus

The unusual landings of Juveniles of Decapterus russelli and Rastrelliger kanagurta in trawl catches of Veraval

Caputre of fish Juveniles in trawl nets is a common and regular phenomenon ever since the cod end mesh size has been reduced to less than 10 mm. Generally the cod-end catches are a mixture of juveniles of several species of finflshes and shellfishes, along with a host of inedible benthic biota. The occurance of a single species in significantly large quantities is seldom found or reported

On the unusual landing of juvenile black pomfret at Veraval and Mangrol landing centre of Gujrat

Pomfrets form an Important component in the fishery off Mangrol and Veraval. They are landed by trawl nets and monofilament gill nets. The silver pomfret Pampas argenteus Is locally called "Vichhuda" and the black pomfret, Formio niger is called "Halva". The former dominates the pomfret fishery with peak landings in the monsoon and post monsoon period. The black pomfret does not show any regular pattern of landing

Record size landing of blackbanded trevally Seriolina nigrofasciata at Veraval

On the 4th of January 2008, two giant sized female blackbanded trevally Seriolina nigrofasciata Ruppell caught by hooks and line were landed at Bhidiya, Veraval (Fig. 1). This is the first report on the landing of black banded trevally at Veraval. The hooks hook no. 6) were suspended at a depth of 80 - 90 m from the trawler having overall length of 14 m and powered with 105 HP engine

On the recent cyclone lashed across Gujarat coast and its effect on marine flsheries sector

A heavy cyclonic wind crossed the coastal Gujarat on 9-6-'98 resulting in the destruction of life and property besides total disruptions of communication, electricity and water supply systems. The present report summarises the effect of this cyclone on the marine fishery sector of coastal Gujarat

Targetted fishery of catfish school in Saurashtra

In the recent past several Ashing methods have been modified in view of improving catch returns and targeting selected resources showing improvement in indigenous learning. Over decades, fishermen learnt that catflshes migrate enmasse to shallower grounds for breeding and feeding in the early stages of its life history. Experience has taught the fishermen how to identify these movements from a distance by observing the sea surface. According to the fishermen, areas of school habitation will be abnormally calm on the surface, the water will be turbid and a large number of big bubbles will be continuously surfacing

Occurrence of a large cornet fish, Fistularia petimba in trawl catches of Veraval coast, Gujarat

A large cornet fish (Fistularia petimba) belonging to the family fistulariidae was collected on 3rd February 2009 from the Bidiya Fish Landing Centre, caught by trawler off Veraval coast at a depth of 60