Satellite based potential fishing zone (PFZ) advisories - acceptance levels and benefits derived by the user community along the Kerala coast

Intensive validation studies of potential fishing zone (PFZ) advisories generated using integration of ocean colour monitor (OCM) derived chlorophyll concentration and advanced very high resolution radiometer (AVHRR) derived sea surface temperatures (SST) were undertaken by the Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) along Kerala coast during the period 2003-2011. There is a positive relationship between PFZ advisories and occurrence/abundance of commercially important pelagic fishes such as oilsardine, Indian mackerel, anchovies, carangids and coastal tunas. Fishing operations undertaken on or closer to dates on which related SST/chlorophyll images have been received yielded positive results. As the gap increases, the yield within PFZ is likely to come down unless the features remain more or less in the same location as revealed by succeeding satellite imagery. The present paper revealed that the fish catch (CPUE) and net profit earned are higher within PFZ compared to the results of operations outside PFZ. The usefulness of PFZ advisories, the only short term marine fishery forecast available in the country for fisherfolk towards obtaining comparatively higher catch per unit effort for the above mentioned major pelagics is proved beyond doubt from the results of more than 100 controlled experiments conducted within and outside PFZ with identical fishing gear along Kerala coast

Efficacy of Intravenous Iron Sucrose in treating Iron Deficiency Anaemia in Antenatal Patients

INTRODUCTION: Anemia is one of the major public health problems in the developing world. More then 70% of pregnant women in South-East Asia region suffer from nutritional anemia. Anemia is the direct cause of maternal death in 10-15% of cases but is an associated cause in many maternal deaths due to haemorrhage, sepsis and cardiac failure. Anemia in pregnancy is associated with an adverse obstetric outcome in form of spontaneous abortions, preterm labor, low birth weight babies and intrauterine growth retardation. It is paradoxical but true that though the cause of pregnancy anemia is known and iron therapy is cheap, anemia continues to take a heavy toll of maternal lives in most developing countries. The World Health Organisation (WHO) defines anemia in pregnant women as hemoglobin level below 11 g / dl. Iron deficiency is the most common hematinic deficiency in pregnancy, followed by folate deficiency. Prevention or early treatment of pregancy anemia is the best prophylaxis against maternal mortality. Supplementation with iron and folic acid during pregnancy is an effective method for preventing mortality and morbidity associated with anemia and improving the outcome of pregnancy. One of the primary aims of antenatal care is to prevent and treat anemia during pregnancy, since the safety of labour and the puerperal state, to say nothing of the future health, depend upon the state of the patient’s hemoglobin reserve Iron is an essential component of hemoglobin in blood. The pregnant women needs 1000 mg of iron all through her pregnancy to maintain iron balance. Traditional iron therapy which is based on either oral administration of iron or blood transfusion has many drawbacks. Now parenteral administration of new well tolerated iron preparations like iron sucrose which has been successfully used in treatment of anemia has revolutionised the treatment of anemia. This study was done to find out the efficacy and safety of intravenous iron sucrose in treatment of iron deficiency anemia in second trimester of pregnancy. AIM OF STUDY: 1. To determine efficacy of iron sucrose in treating iron deficiency anemia in antenatal patients. 2. To determine safety of iron sucrose in treatment of iron deficiency anemia in antenatal patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Study Place : Institute of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. Study Period : 2009 to 2010. Study Design : Prospective Study. 50 antenatal patients in second trimester with hemoglobin > 6 grams % and < 11 grams % were selected. Inclusion Criteria: a) Gestational age 13 to 28 weeks, b) Hemoglobin > 6 gm % to < 11 gm %. Exclusion Criteria: 1) Patients in first and third trimester of pregnancy, 2) Bleeding disorders, 3) Patients who had known allergy to parenteral iron. METHOD: Iron sucrose was given as an intravenous infusion. No test dose required. 200mg iron sucrose was diluted with 100 ml of normal saline immediately prior to infusion and is to be infused over a period of atleast 30 minutes to 1 hour. The same dose repeated after 2 days. We did not calculate the optimal dose of iron sucrose required by each women based on her pre – treatment hemoglobin; we studied the response to a uniform dose over a range of pre – treatment hemoglobin values. Hemoglobin, packed cell volume were analysed by automatic cell counter. Serum iron, total iron binding capacity was calculated using semi auto analyser. An informed consent obtained from patient and a detailed history taken. SUMMARY: In our study of 50 antenatal patients with iron deficiency anemia, were selected according to inclusion & exclusion criteria mentioned. METHOD: 200 mg of iron sucrose was given intravenously 2 doses 2 days apart, & followed up 1 month after administration of iron sucrose and at delivery. The following parameters were assessed; 1. Hb in g/dl. 2. PCV. 3. Serum ferritin in μg/l. 4. Serum iron in μg/dl. 5. Total iron binding capacity. 6. Percentage saturation of iron. THE RESULTS OF THE STUDY ARE AS FOLLOWS; 1. Majority of patients around 36%, were in age group 21 – 25 yrs. 2. 80% of patients were in class V socio economic status. 3. 76% patients were booked. 4. Majority of patients were multiparous. 5. Average rise in hemoglobin after treatment was 3.73 g/dl with p value < 0.05, statistically significant. 6. Average rise in serum ferritin after treatment was 155.89 μg/l with p value < 0.05, statistically significant. 7. Average rise in packed cell volume after treatment was 7.83 with p value < 0.05, statistically significant. 8. Average rise in serum iron after treatment was 33.82 μg/ l with p value < 0.05, statistically significant. 9. Average rise in total iron binding capacity after treatment was 119.5 with p value < 0.05, statistically significant. 10. Average rise in percentage saturation of iron after treatment was 21.686% with p value < 0.05, statistically significant. 11. Side effect profile were very minimal with 90% patients (45/50) had no side effects. 2 patients had chills & rigors, 1 patients had headache, 1 patients had nausea, 1 patients had thrombophlebitis. No anaphylactic reactions occurred. CONCLUSION: 1. Intravenous iron sucrose has become a major interest to prevent functional iron deficiency. 2. Iron sucrose has been found to be effective in improving hemoglobin, hematocrit, serum iron & ferritin values significantly in antenatal women with iron deficiency anemia. 3. There is good tolerance to this formulation partly due to low allergenic effect and partly due to slow release of elementary iron from the complex. 4. By using intravenous iron sucrose to treat iron deficiency anemia in antenatal patients, the rate of blood transfusions could be reduced. To conclude intravenous iron sucrose is safe, convenient and more effective therapy for treatment of iron deficiency anemia in antenatal patients requiring shorter period to achieve maximum hemoglobin concentration. It has convenient dosage and administration. It can be used to replace blood transfusion in antenatal period

Length-weight relationship and relative condition factor of Stolephorus commersonii (Lacepede, 1803) exploited along Kerala coast

The length-weight relationship and relative condition factor of Stolephorus commersonii was calculated to assess the significance of allometric factor and the well being. The study was carried out by using the data collected from ring seine and purse seine catches during the year 2010-2011. The length of species in catches ranged from 5 to 14.6 cm with a mean length of 9.24 ± 1.83 cm and the weight ranged from 1 to 25g with an average weight of 6.64 ± 3.96 g. Length-weight relationship calculated for male, female and pooled are W = 0.0070 L3.02, W = 0. 00756 L2.99 and W = 0. 0073 L3.006 respectively. The relative condition factor (Kn) estimated separately for male and female showed monthly fluctuation. The highest Kn values were observed in February and August and the lowest in June for both the sexes

Growth and maturity of Indian oil sardine Sardinella longiceps (Valenciennes, 1847) along southwest coast of India

Growth studies are important to determine the total recruitment of fish with respect to time while information on age and length at first maturity are essential to assess the spawning stock. The present communication deals with growth, maturity and mortality parameters of Indian oil sardine Sardinella longiceps from southwest coast of India. Length at first maturity of oil sardine was found to be 15.7 and 15.2 cm for male and female, respectively. Comparison of length at first maturity of oil sardine with earlier studies showed only minor variations. The growth parameters L∞, K, and age at zero length (t0) were calculated as 19.8 cm, 1.14 yr-1 and -0.0464 respectively. From the VBG equation, the length attained at the end of I, II and III year is estimated as 13.79, 17.87 and 18.9 cm respectively. Two peaks of recruitment to the fishery were observed. The values of total mortality (Z), natural mortality (M) and fishing mortality (F) estimated are 4.33, 2.7 and 1.6 respectively. The exploitation rate was found to be 0.37

Potential fishing zone (PFZ) advisories-Are they beneficial to the coastal fisherfolk? A case study along Kerala coast, South India

Intensive validation of Potential Fishing Zone (PFZ)advisories generated by the Indian National Centre for Ocean Information services(INCOIS) along the Kerala coast during the period 2006-2010 revealed a positive relationship between PFZ and occurrence/abundance of commercially important pelagic fishes. The usefulness of PFZ advisories for artisanal, motorized and small mechanized sector fishermen towards obtaining comparatively higher catch per unit effort for the major pelagics and thereby improving the economics of fishing operations is highlighted. Analysis of catch data from active fisherfolk and controlled experiments undertaken within and outside notified areas simultaneously showed that catch per unit effort (CPUE) was more in notified areas compared to un notified areas. The extra quantity of fish caught in notified areas is about 2 to 6 times The percentage of extra monetary benefit obtained in notified areas is about 2 to 7 times

Validation of tuna Potential Fishing Zone advisories of Lakshadweep with a note on tuna habitat preferences and biology

Validation of tuna Potential Fishing Zone advisories of Lakshadweep with a note on tuna habitat preferences and biolog

Two instances of gonadal abnormalities in Indian mackerel

The Indian mackerel Rastrelliger kanagurta is known to be dioecious with male and female gonads in separate individuals. However, gonadal abnormalities such as hermaphroditism and other aberrations have been observed in a few instances. Gonadal abnormalities in mackerel observed during regular biological sampling from fish samples collected from the landing centre is reported here. For the histological analysis, the gonads were fixed in 10% neutral buffered formalin, dehydrated in ethanol series and the cleared samples were embedded in paraffin wax and made into blocks

Stock structure analysis of Indian mackerel Rastrelliger kanagurta (Cuvier, 1817) from south-east and south-west coasts of India using truss network system

A total of 200 specimens of Indian mackerel (Rastrelliger kanagurta) were collected from Kochi in the south-west coast and Chennai in the south-east coast and they were subjected to truss analysis. A truss network was constructed by interconnecting 10 landmarks to form a total of 21 truss distance variables extracted from the landmarks. The transformed truss measurements were subjected to factor analysis which revealed that there is no separation of the stocks along south-east and south-west coasts. Thus the present study has indicated that the population of Indian mackerel from south-east and south-west coasts remains the same

Stock structure analysis of oil sardine Sardinella longiceps (Valenciennes, 1847) from southeast and southwest coasts of India

A total of 200 specimens of oil sardine Sardinella longiceps collected from Kochi in the southwest coast and Chennai in the southeast coast were subjected to truss analysis. A truss network was constructed by interconnecting 10 landmarks to form a total of 21 truss distance variables extracted from the landmarks. The transformed truss measurements were subjected to factor analysis which revealed that there is no separation of the stocks along southeast and southwest coasts. The marginal differences in shape and form are attributed to the ecological differences in the habitats which is evident from differences in length weight relationships and feeding intensity of the population along these two coasts

Inter-annual variations of selected oceanographic parameters and its relation to fishery of small pelagics off Kochi, southwest coast of India

The availability as well as abundance of selected small pelagics along Kerala coast (south west coast of India) was highly variable during the past three decades. During the period 1980-2012 there have been several periods of abundance as well as population crashes in the oil sardine fishery. The present study revealed that the occurrence of low sea level during the month of May implies either early wind driven upwelling or early intensification of equator-ward coastal current and consequent upsloping of isopycnals. The occurrence of low sea level (6857) as early as in May and upwelled water in August with low dissolved oxygen (0.68 ml l-1) with low sea water temperature (24˚C) at the bottom at 10 m depth, off Kochi was found to affect the sardine fishery in the year 1994, when the landing at Kochi was only 15 t. Mean sea level was found to be a sign of upwelling and the real time observations of dissolved oxygen indicated wide variations during the upwelling period