Pufferfish Lagocephalus inermis - an emerging fishery along Mangalore coast of Karnataka

L agocephalus inermis (Temminck & Schlegel, 1850) commonly known as smooth blaasop, belongs to the family Tetraodontidae and order Tetraodontiformes. This fish was considered as a menace by fishermen during the previous year (2006) as it caused damage to other species landed and the net

Gillnet and hook & line fishing off Mangalore

Fishing using gillnets and hooks and line have been in vogue along Mangalore coast since a long time. These fishing practices are very popular and found to be lucrative along coastal Karnataka. Fishing using gillnets and hooks and line has so far been operated only Mar. Fish. Infor. Serv., T&E Ser., No. 188, 2006 6 from canoes fitted with outboard engines (OBM). The fishermen fish for a day or night or at the most for 2-3 days. However, of late, mechanized crafts (inboard mechanized) operating gillnets as well as hooks and line land their catch at Mangalore Fisheries Harbour. The crafts used are large and comparable to the size of trawlers and purseseiners of Mangalore and have an endurance to stay out at sea for more than a month. As this kind of fishing activity is new to this area, the catch as well as gear details were studied and a brief account is given

Targeted trawl fishery for moontail bullseye, Priacanthus hamrur off Mangalore for surumi production

Moontail bullseye, Priacanthus hamrur has been forming a part of the trawl fishery off Mangalore, caught from a depth beyond 100 m ever since deepsea trawling started off the coast. This is not a preferred edible species in Karnataka and was not a species considered for targeted fishery

High abundance of large sized rock cods (Epinephelus spp.) off Karnataka coast during the postmonsoon month of September

some of the multi-day units ventured into deeper waters (60-80 m) and obtained good catches of reef cods (Fig: 1) along with threadfin breams and cuttle fishes. Encouraged by this, more number of multi-day units were put into operation in September of the following year (1995) and got still better catches of reef cods

Studies on the proteinaceous gel secretion from the skin of the catfish, Arius maculatus (Thunberg, 1792)

The Catfish Arius maculatus (Thunberg, 1792) causes injury to the fisherman while handling the fish and it was proven that the skin mucus of the fish have several properties including the toxicity. In the present study, the biochemical property of the catfish skin mucus was characterized and it was found that the protein content of the soluble and insoluble fractions were 9.34 and 12.64 ìg/g, respectively. The total lipid was 0.005 ìg/g and the total carbohydrate was 0.08 ìg/g. Of the total 17 amino acids recorded, cysteine availability was very low; 0.01 and 0.02 mole % in the soluble and insoluble fractions, respectively. Leucine was available in high quantity (9.8 mole %) in the soluble fraction and aspartic acid (9.0 mole %) was high in the insoluble fraction. On SDS-PAGE analysis, seven and six bands with a distinct band at 35 KDa in the soluble and insoluble fractions, respectively, were observed. On haemolytic activity, lysis was observed by 50 ìg/ml of insoluble fraction and 25 ìg/ml of soluble fraction. Both soluble and insoluble fractions showed maximum and minimum activities against Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aueruginosa, respectively

Observations on the landing of Odonus niger at Mangalore

The redtoothed triggerfish (Odonus niger) of the family Balistidae is a reef associated species landed by trawl nets operated along the Karnataka coast. This species forms dense aggregations in inshore waters and were not targeted till recently due to their poor market demand. The triggerfish shoals are intentionally avoided by the trawlers and the incidental catches are either discarded or brought ashore when there is available deck space for storage. Such small quantities landed are auctioned along with the miscellaneous fish groups. Some interest was evinced on this species by the fish meal traders due to limited availability of raw materials during the year 2008

PROTEOMIC ANALYSIS OF HUMAN BLOOD AND URINE IN DIABETIC NEPHROPATHY

Objective: To investigate the proteomics status of human blood and urine in diabetic nephropathy.Methods: In the present study 90 patients were selected. The study was comprised of 30 Diabetic mellitus (DM) with microalbuminuria patients (Group 3), 30 DM without microalbuminuria patients (group 2), 30 healthy controls (Group 1). Fasting glucose, post prandial glucose, lipid profile, fructosamine in serum and micro albumin in urine were investigated in all the patients.Results: The significant increase in serum fructosamine, fasting and post prandial glucose levels along with increased microalbuminuria observed in group 3 patients compared to group 2 and group 1 patients. Hyperglycemia increases fructosamine, cholesterol, triglycerides with decrease in HDL-cholesterol levels, indicates the major risk of atherogenicity. To study the effect of age, smoking, DM duration on DN, patients were grouped in different way and analysed.Conclusion: The results suggested that smoking, age and prolonged DM influences DN. Normal and DN patients serum and urine samples were selected and protein was separated by SDS-PAGE and identified by LC-MS. Results of LC-MS showed the difference in proteomics of normal and DN patients

Agarala: A traditional fishing boat of Karnataka

Agarala boat or coracle is a traditional fishing boat used for estuarine and riverine fishing in Karnataka. These traditional boats ensure sustainable fishing using eco-friendly fishing methods. The main fish species caught in these crafts are Sillago sihama, Sphyraena obtusata, Mugil cephalus, Aries aries, Gerres filamentosus, Lutjanus argentimaculatus, Leiognathus splendens, Cynoglossus macrostomus, Psettodes erumei, Platycephalus indicus, Etroplus suratensis, Anodontostoma chacunda, Portunus pelagicus, P.sanguinolentus, Scylla serrata, Thryssa mystax, and Opisthopterus tardoore. Fishing with agarala in the estuarine waters is largely at subsistence level and is carried out by a minor section of the fishermen community. The following paper documents and reports for the first time, the use of such unique fishing boats, in the Dakshina Kannada district, Karnataka. The main objective of the study was to explore the nature of crafts, the unique design of the crafts used and types of fishes caught. Fishing in agarala provides a good source of income to the fishermen using these simple, traditional environment friendly and cost effective crafts which make sustainable use of the scarce fishery resources