Large scale farming of green mussel in Ashtamudi Lake, Kerala

Green mussel, Perna viridis, farming is spreading fast in the lower stretches of Ashtamudi Lake in Kollam district of Southern Kerala. Huge demand for green mussel in the northern part of Kerala has resulted in significant increase in its price. The price has increased to ` 10,000 per gunny bag of 70 kg for medium sized mussel (50-100 mm) whereas larger ones (120 -150 mm) fetch prices as high as ` 400 per kg (8 pieces). This has prompted local fishermen to try mussel farming using on bottom method of mussel culture which some farmers practiced earlier with locally available seed

First report of Spotted reef crab off Vizhinjam coast

Carpilius maculatus (Linnaeus, 1758), commonly known as ‘Seven-eleven crab’, ‘Spotted reef crab’, ‘Dark finger coral crab’, or ‘Large spotted crab’ is a member of the family Carpiliidae. One male specimen of the spotted reef crab C. maculatus measuring 130 mm in carapace width was caught by a bottom set gill net along with Portunus sanguinolentus from the rocky area in Vizhinjam coastal waters

Emerging clam fishery in Muthalapozhi Estuary

Muthalapozhi Estuary is located in northern part of Thiruvananthapuram District, Kerala. Perunguzhi and Azhoor are commercial bivalve landing centers located along the Muthalapozhi Estuary, where large-scale clam exploitation has emerged during the recent past (Fig. 1). This new development is due to the increased domestic demand for clams in Karnataka, Goa and Maharashtra consequent to the decreased availability of clams in their traditional local clam fishing grounds

Morphological, anatomical and reproductive features of Loliolus (Loliolus) hardwickei (Gray, 1849) caught from the Vizhinjam Coast, Kerala, India

The morphological, anatomical and reproductive features of the little Indian squid, Loliolus (Loliolus) hardwickei (Gray, 1849) were studied based on samples collected from boat seine operated along the Vizhinjam Coast. The species was found to be a new entrant to the fishery along the Vizhinjam Coast. A total of 27 morphometric characters were measured and 13 indices were calculated and reported. Dorsal mantle length (DML) of the specimens ranged from 2.6 to 6.8 cm with a mean DML of 4.5±0.88 cm. The largest specimen observed was a male with DML 6.8 cm. Fully mature (Stage IV) specimens were found to have a higher gonadosomatic index (12.54±2.64 in females and 0.8±0.21 in males). Average length and width of spermatophores were 3.078±0.092 mm and 0.11±0.02 mm respectively. Samples with higher DML were in advanced maturity stages (Stage V). Size composition (DML) of samples revealed that 50% of squids were within the 4-5 cm size range

Speargun fishing off Kovalam coast

As an adventure underwater sport, speargun fishing is practiced at Kovalam coast near Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala.   Spearguns  are designed to launch a spear at fish or other underwater animals based on a trigger mechanism. The spear has a flopper or barb that is attached to the muzzle of the gun by a monofilament line and basically the two types of guns used are pneumatic and rubber band powered spear guns. Off Kovalam coast, mainly imported ones obtained from the visiting foreign tourists are popula

Report on occurrence of Purple back flying squid in hook and line fishery off Vizhinjam, Kerala

Three specimens of Purple back flying squid, Sthenoteuthis oualaniensis (Lesson, 1830) were landed on 23.3.18.They were caught by hook and line operated at a distance of 25-30 km from the shore with the aid of LED lights from multiday gill netter unit based at Vizhinjam Fisheries Harbour

Studies on the broodstock production and larval rearing of Coral demoiselle Neopomacentrus nemurus (Bleeker 1857)

Steps taken for broodstock development of Neopomacentrus nemurus, Coral demoiselle (Bleeker, 1857) in a hatchery, its spawning and development of egg to the juvenile stage are described. Among the three treatments tried, only the trial using Parvocalanus crassirostris nauplii as the first diet helped in the development of larvae. Larval and post‐larval growth was studied for a period of 65 days post hatch. The larva measured 2–2.4 mm in total length at the time of hatching. The mouth size of larva at the time of hatching measured 237.92 μm. By the 5th day, the width of the larval body had significantly increased. All the fins were conjoined, except for the caudal fin which had begun its appearance on the 2nd day itself. The digestive system was functional by the 5th day and the copepod remains were seen in the digestive tract. The larva metamorphosed by the 15th day with fully developed fins and fin rays. On the 20th day, the larval body had begun to display signs of fin pigmentation. The larva assumed adult pigmentation by the 35th day. By the 65th day, the larva grew to a total length of about 27 mm and weighed about 0.56 g

First Report of Marble shrimp Saron marmoratus (Olivier, 1811) (Crustacea: Decapoda: Hippolytidae) from the South West Coast of India

One live specimen of marble shrimp, Saron marmoratus (Olivier, 1811) is obtained from the Vizhinjam coast during sampling near Rocky areas of vizhinjam coast, Kerala on 14 June 2016. These shrimp are greenish to light brown in body colour with whitish and yellowish speckled spots and having a typical tuft of cirri on the back. Marbled shrimps are highly demanded and good priced in the marine aquarium trade. The present Report is the first record of Marbled Shrimp, Saron marmoratus from the Kerala coast, south west coast of Indi

First Record of Red Frog Crab Ranina ranina (Linnaeus, 1758) (Brachyura: Raninidae) from South West Coast of India

The present report is the first record of the Ranina ranina (Linnaeus, 1758) from vizhinjam, Thiruvanathapuram, Kerala located along the south-west coast of India. A specimen of Ranina ranina measuring 108 mm in carapace width were caught by a bottom set gill net operated along the Vizhinjam coastal waters in February 2018. Identification and description of the recorded crab, photographs and measurments of the single specimen. This is the first record of the Red frog crab Ranina ranina from the south west coast of India. Earlier it is reported from the South East coast, Gulf of Mannar, India

Production of green mussel seed using micron-meshed cages for spat rearing

Vizhinjam Research Centre of ICAR-CMFRI has developed a cost effective nursery rearing technique for growing green mussel, spat to seed size suitable for mussel, farming using micron meshed cages. This will bring livelihood security for thousands of mussel farmers and fishermen in coastal areas of India