Heavy landings of M.dobsoni, popularly called 'khopra'
in Oriya were noticed at Paradeep centre during the off
season in March and April 1995 in the trawl net. It was
the largest catch ever landed in the last 10 years. It
is also the most important species of prawn in the
commercial fishery of Orissa coast. The unusual
fishery occurred when the prawns migrated to the
shallow waters and were caught by the trawler
