Fattening of mud crab: an approach of aquasilviculture in Andaman Islands

During September - December 2004, mud crab fattening was attempted in tide-fed earthen ponds in Lakshmipur (North Andaman) and Bamboo Tickri (Middle Andaman) with mangroves such as Rhizophora mucronata, R. apiculata and Avicennia marina, covering 60 to 80% of the total pond area. Water crabs of Scylla tranquebarica, S. olivacea and S. serrata, each weighing 500 - 1500 g were stocked in the pond at a density of 0.5 kg/m2 with suitable hideouts to reduce cannibalism. In 30 to 35 days, 85% survival was obtained with 8% weight increment. This paper outlines the measures that may be adopted for practicing aquaculture in mangroves

Environmental quality assessment of Treis Island, Nicobar, India

The physico-chemical, biological and microbiological parameters of surface seawater was studied at Tries Island during a survey in 2009. The physico-chemical parameters like silicate and inorganic phosphate concentration varied significantly from 3.53 to 4.22 and 0.05 to 0.09 μmol/L, respectively at Tries Island. The zooplankton population density ranged from 4696 to 8207 Nos./m3 and the dominant group was Copepod. The zooplankton biomass also varied significantly from 0.31 to 0.72 ml/m3. The phytoplankton density and species number also varied significantly from 1020 to 1220 Nos. /L and 25 to 31 numbers, respectively. Soleniae dominated in coastal waters of Treis Island. Chlorophyll-a, and phaeophytin concentration varied between 0.12 to 0.24 and 0.06 to 0.27 mg/m3, respectively. The chlorophyll-a concentration variation was significant. Apart from that noise level, soil and plant diversity were also investigated. Soil parameters indicated its fertile nature which is being utilized for horticulture by tribal community living in the neighbouring islands. The present study gives an account of the existing environmental quality in and around the island, providing a baseline scenario to assess the environmental impacts due to developments in the future. This study also provides comparison between populated and unpopulated coastal bay/marine ecosystems

Lobster breeding, Sea ranching and juvenile fattening

Lobsters are one of the highly esteemed seafood delicacies and cu r re n t ly fetch the highest unit value among commercially exploited marine resources. These are decapod crustaceans belonging to fo u r fami l ie s : Nephropidae {clawed / true lobsters), Palinuridae {Spiny/ rock lobsters), Scyllaridae (Sand /slipper lobsters) and Synaxidae (Coral lobsters). Representatives of the families Palinuridae and Scyllaridae constitute the lobster fisher000y of India

Effect Of Online Education On Elementary Education In India

The mishaps happening in online education can cost a lot to the students who are getting educated by it in many ways. Elementary students particularly suffer immensely in terms of health, safety due to the online mode of education. The education system for young kids is viewed as a sacred stage since it helps in imparting basic knowledge to a human being. Yet, there are many Initiatives to help the problem, but it is still not enough. The objective of this study is to find whether online education is fruitful for the elementary school, and to deduce how many hours is advisable for elementary class, also to find how much health is getting affected, likely also to see if gadgets is advised to provide to the elementary students, lastly to ascertain which mode of education is most preferable for elementary education. Unlike in the case of doctrinal research where the research is conducted on the basis of facts and data already collected in the library, archives and other databases, collecting or gathering information by a first-hand study into the universe, it helps the empirical research to be carried on. There are a total of 1005 samples collected with regard to this study. Hence, through these figures, we are able to understand that there is not much reception regarding online education for elementary students among the general public but truly they are at a confused level about which mode is truthfully the good one for elementary school students

Hemolytic toxin from the soft coral Sarcophyton trocheliophorum: isolation and physiological characterization

The unifying characteristic of cnidarians is the production of protein and polypeptide toxins. The present study describes the identification of a hemolytic toxin from the soft coral Sarcophyton trocheliophorum. The crude extract was highly cytotoxic (EC50 = 50 ng/mL) against human erythrocytes. It was also tested for hemolytic activity by the blood agar plate method, resulting in a hemolytic halo of 12 mm with 50 µg of protein. The stability of the venom under different physiological conditions was analyzed. The venom hemolytic activity was augmented by alkaline and neutral pH whereas it was reduced in acidic pH. The activity was stable up to 60º C. The hemolytic activity was completely abolished by the addition of serum and reduced significantly during frequent freezing-thawing cycles. Toxin purification was performed by ammonium sulfate precipitation and subsequently desalted by dialysis against 10 mM sodium phosphate buffer (pH 7.2), followed by anion exchange chromatography on DEAE cellulose column and gel filtration chromatography using Sephadex G-50 matrix. The purified active fractions possessed a prominent protein of approximately 45 kDa, as revealed by SDS-PAGE

Assessment of post tsunami coral reef resource in Pongi Balu coast, south Andaman Islands

In the present study, an assessment of the status of coral reefs along the Pongi Balu coast, south Andaman Islands, which is a part of the Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park, has been made by scuba diving, low draft glass-bottom boat and visual interpretation in some places during low-tide condition. The coral reef boundaries have been accurately determined with the help of a low draft glass-bottom boat fitted with a real time kinematics global positioning system, and the existing coral reefs map of the area has been updated using the geographic information system technique. A total of 161.6 ha of previously existed live coral reefs were surveyed along the Pongi Balu coast and out of that ‘live coral’ was found over 81.4 ha and ‘dead coral’ was found over 60.6 ha whereas 19.6 ha area was found to have been lost from the existing coral reefs and categorized as ‘no coral’. The study highlights a few natural and anthropogenic factors affecting the existing coral reefs and hindering the re-establishment of coral reefs in the study area

Fishery resources of spiny lobsters in the Andaman Island, India

The Andaman and Nicobar (A&N) Islands is the largest archipelago in the Bay of Bengal. In spite of availability of diverse lobster resources, there is no organised lobster fishing in the Islands. The main objective of the study was to collect baseline data on the lobster resources of the Andaman Island. Periodic field surveys were carried out at 33 landing centres in the Andaman and data were collected by direct observation and questionnaires. Mechanised and non-mechanised fishing crafts are engaged in lobster fishing in the Island. Lobsters are manually caught by spears, gillnet, shoreseine and handpicking. Six commercially important species of spiny lobsters, Panulirus penicillatus, P. versicolor, P. homarus, P. ornatus, P. polyphagus and P. longipes are present in the island. Among them, P. penicillatus dominated the landings throughout the study period (1999-2000), with maximum catch in January, followed by P. versicolor. The total lobster landings in Andaman during the study period were estimated as 3.16 tonnes with maximum landings in south Andaman (Port Blair)

CMFRI Marine Fisheries Policy Series No.17; Draft National Mariculture Policy 2019 (NMP2019) Report of the Committee constituted by the National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB), Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying, Govt. of India. [Report of the Committee constituted by the National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB) Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying, Govt. of India]

The goal of the National Mariculture Policy 2019 (NMP 2019) is to ensure sustainable farmed seafood production for the benefit of food and nutritional security of the Nation and to provide additional livelihood and entrepreneurial opportunities to the coastal communities for a better living. The overall strategy of NMP is to increase seafood production in a sustainable and responsible manner, ensure socio-economic development, enhance food, health and nutritional security and safeguard gender, social equity and environment

Gene Expression Changes Related to Endocrine Function and Decline in Reproduction in Fathead Minnow (Pimephales promelas) after Dietary Methylmercury Exposure

BACKGROUND: Methylmercury (MeHg) is a known neurotoxic agent, but the mechanisms by which MeHg may act on reproductive pathways are relatively unknown. Several studies have indicated potential changes in hormone levels as well as declines in vertebrates with increasing dietary MeHg exposure. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to identify alterations in gene expression associated with MeHg exposure, specifically those associated with previously observed changes in reproduction and reproductive biomarkers. Fathead minnows, Pimephales promelas, were fed one of three diets that were similar to documented concentrations of MeHg in the diets of wild invertivorous and piscivorous fish. We used a commercial macroarray in conjunction with quantitative polymerase chain reaction to examine gene expression in fish in relation to exposure to these environmentally relevant doses of MeHg. RESULTS: Expression of genes commonly associated with endocrine disruption was altered with Hg exposure. Specifically, we observed a marked up-regulation in vitellogenin mRNA in individual Hg-exposed males and a significant decline in vitellogenin gene expression in female fish with increasing Hg concentrations. Other genes identified by the macroarray experiment included those associated with egg fertilization and development, sugar metabolism, apoptosis, and electron transport. We also observed differences in expression patterns between male and female fish not related to genes specifically associated with reproduction, indicating a potential physiological difference in the reaction of males and females to MeHg. CONCLUSION: Gene expression data may provide insight into the mechanisms by which MeHg affects reproduction in fish and indicate how MeHg differs in its effect from other heavy metals and endocrine-disrupting compounds