Marine fish calendar.12. Mandapam

The Ramanathapuram District with a coastline of 261 km, covering the sea-front of Gulf of Mannar and Palk Bay, ranks foremost in marine fish production of Tamil Nadu State. Sustaining high levels of organic production, the seas along the coast have lucrative fishing grounds with greater profusion of finfishes, shellfishes, seaweeds and other economically important organisms

Evaluation of the morphometric and meristic characters of fishes

To determine the body proportions, to prepare adult skeleton, to familiarise with staining technique for small specimens and to count vertebrae, spines and ray

Observations on the landings of the sea cucumber Holothuria spinifera at rameswaram by ‘Chanku Madi’

Sea cucumber industry in India,was chiefly depending on one species Holothuria scabra locally known as Vella attai. In addition to this another species H. spinifera locally known as Raja attai or Cheena attai occurs in large quantities in some areas and are processed for export. This species was once rated high in the market. At present it is not much preferred by the buyers

Study of the ichthyofauna of the locality of work

To study the fish fauna at two centres, Mandapam and Pamban by making collections there; to study the characteristic features of various groups; and to identify the important species with the aid of literature (both in the field and in the laboratory

On a young sea cow killed at Periapatnam, Gulf of Mannar

A young dugong was killed by the fishermen of Periapatnam in the inshore waters of Gulf of Mannar (depth 2 m, distance from the shore 2 km) near periapatnam. It weighed about 60 kg and had a total length of 155 cm. Meat was sold at Rs. 30.00 per kg in Periapatnam. The Dugong measuring 155 cm killed at Periapatnam, would have taken about five and a half years to attain that size

On the largest sunfish Masturus lanceolatus Leonard recorded at Periapattinam, Gulf of Mannar

On 23.01.1994 a specimen of Masturus lanceolatus measuring 1830 mm was found floating in the sea and was brought to Periapattinam fish market.Incidently, this was the largest sunfish species ever recorded from the Indian waters. The important morphometric measurements taken are give

Note on seasonal fishery of Holothuria (Metriatyla) scabra Jaeger from Pamban Island

Out of the nearly 200 species of sea cucumber known from the seas around India, about 75 species are reported from the shallow waters of the Indian coast. Of these about 12 species are commercially important. Holothuria scabra locally ceilled as 'Vella attai' is the dominant species exploited by fishermen by skin diving in the Palk Bay and Gulf of Mannar

Status of sea cow Dugong dugon (Muller) along the Southeast coast of India

Observations on the stranding and incidental catch of sea cow Dugong dugon (Muller) along the southeast coast of India are reviewed here. The number of incidental catch and stranded Dugongs were greater in the Gulf of Mannar than in the Palk Bay region during 1994-2000. The need for protection and conservation of Dugongs from indiscriminate exploitation are stressed upon to evolve suitable management strategies

On the occurrence of the soft-shelled turtle, Pelochelys bibroni (Owen) in marine environment

A soft-shelled turtle, Pelochelys bibroni (Owen), caught alive from Palk Bay — a new record from the sourther part of lndian peninsula — proves beyond doubt that the species can tolerate the marine environment, as against the belief that it is purely a freshwater form. The behaviour of the animal was studied keeping it under captivity for 14 days

Biology and fishery of Leiognathus brevirostris (Valenciennes) from the Palk Bay and the Gulf of Mannar

Age and growth, reproduction, food and feeding habits, and fishery of L. brevirostris from the Palk Bay and the Gulf of Mannar are described, based on material collected from commercial catches landed by different fishing gear during 1969. Life span of the species is about 2 yr, attaining a size of about 60 and 120 mm at the end of 1st and 2nd yr respectively. Female fish matures at about 63 mm and the male at 68 mm when they are just about 1 yr old. Female produces a maximum number of 16243 eggs