A large scale inshore migration of Buccaneer anchovy, Encrasicholina punctifer (=Stolephorus buccaneeri)

resulted in heavy landing of the fish by boat seine

during 19- 22 July '94 at Vizhinjam. The catch

details of the boat seine during the four days are

give

Achari, R Bhaskaran

Gopakumar, G

Velayudhan, A K

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ICAR MARINE FISHERIES INFORMATION SERVICE No. 137 APRIL - MAY 1995 W ^ > 7 f t « l 9 t T j ^ TECHNICAL AND f ^ ^ r l H : > 3 f ^ 5 T & o ^ EXTENSION SERIES %7^cr T H T ^ T T l f f i : ? ^ CENTRAL MARINE FISHERIES aiT^duT^ TTFc^r^ RESEARCH INSTITUTE ^ f ^ 7 , ^ITcT COCHIN, INDIA INDIAN COUNCIL OF AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH Cuttle fish were procured right at the landing centre by the processing companies. They were sold at the rate of Rs.28/kg, Rs. 42/kg, Rs. 60/kg and Rs. 72/kg during 1990, '91, '92 and '93 respectively. However, Loiigo spp, do not fetch such high prices and it varied from Rs.8/kg, Rs. 12/kg, Rs. 15/kg Rs.20/kg respectively during the same period. The present observation reveals the emergence of a new fishery for cephalopods along the Tuticorin Coast. In contrast to the cephalopod catch by trawl net the present exploitation by jigs is highly selec-tive and brings in large sized cuttle fish belonging to one species. Further, it is caught only during day time. Night fishing with the rjecessary facilities may enhance the cephalopod production in future. THE INSHORE MIGRATION OF BUCCANEER ANCHOVY DURING MONSOON* Whitebaits which form one of the important commercial pelagic fishery resources of the south-west coast of India, are generally inshore schooling species. But the BuccEineer anchovy, Encrasicholina punctifer (=Stolephorus buccaneeri) is compara-tively an oceanic species which migrate to inshore waters during the southwest monsoon period (June - September). During the other months, this spe-cies is available only in stray numbers in the inshore catches. This species is the suitable an-chovy which could be employed as live-bait and hence has special importance as a potential live-bait for tuna in Lakshadweep. A large scale inshore migration of this species resulted in heavy landing of the fish by boat seine during 19- 22 July '94 at Vizhinjam. The catch details of the boat seine during the four days are given in Table 1. It could be seen that the total whitebait catch during the four days was 222.71 which constituted 94.8% of the total fish catch by boat seine. E. punctifer formed 83.6% and E. deuisi 11.2% of the catch. The catch per unit effort of E. punctifer in TABLE 1. Catch details of the boat seine from 19"' to 22 July '94 at Vizhinjam Species/Group Encrasicholina punctifer E. devisi Decapterus macrosoma Trichiurus lepturus Rastrelliger kanagurta Carangids Loligo duvauceli Acetes Total Effort expended Boat seine catch in kg Motorised Non-motorised craft 1,67,576 19,468 406 1,292 6,636 -8 9 5 -1,96,273 726 craft 55,172 10,335 420 160 3,694 160 160 392 70,333 410 Total % 2,22,748 83.6 29,803 826 1,452 10,330 160 8 9 5 392 2,66,606 11.2 0.3 0.5 3.9 0.1 0 .3 0.1 motorised and non-montorised boat seine units were 230.8 kg and 134.6 kg respectively. The monsoon was very active and the surface water temperature came down from 24.5°C to 22.5°C during these days. E. punctifer ranged in total length from 55 to 119 mm with modes at 70 and 100 mm. The major portion of the catch was contributed by 100-109 mm fish. Among females-71% and among males 95% of the fish were in partially spent gonadial condition. It is known that the spawning season of this species is protracted and the monsoon season also forms part of the spawning period of the fish. In the samples collected, 95.6% of the fish were with 'empty' and the rest were with 'half full' stomach condition. The stomach contents con-sisted almost entirely of the copepod, Temora turbinata. However, it needs further investigation to establish whether the migration of E. punctifer is associated with feeding or in accordance with the environ- mental changes. Eventhough, the inshore migrated population of E. punctifer during monsoon can be termed as a spawning stock, it is seen that the majority of the fish had almost reached their maximum size. Added to that, the spawning season of the fish also is protracted. Hence the exploitation of the inshore stock during monsoon may not adversely affect the recruitment pattern. In view of the above, it is felt that if this species is not judiciously exploited from the inshore waters during the monsoon months, it will be almost entirely lost to the artisanal fishery. Experiments carried out at Vizhinjam had shown that this species could be kept in pens without much mortality for about three months. It is worth investigating whether the species could be stocked in pens during the monsoon period for two to three months and then transported to Lakshadweep for utilisation as live-bait for tuna. * Prepared by G. Gopakumar, R. Bhaskaran Achary and A. K. Velayudhan, Vizhinjam Research Centre of C.M.F.R.I. Vizhinjam - 696 521 16 

The inshore migration of buccaneer anchovy during

monsoon

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The inshore migration of buccaneer anchovy during monsoon

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