Pomfrets contribute to about 2% in all India fish catch. They

are abundant along the coasts of Maharashtra, Gujarat and Orissa.

Pampus argenteus forms 65.9%, Formio niger 33.2% and Pampus

chinensis 0.9% of the catch. They feed on planktonic organisms

like salps, medusae and ctenophores. Both P. argenteus and F. niger

have prolonged spawning with two peaks. The breeding ground of

P. argenteus is the depth realm 55-90 m offCambay and Sand head;

while the inshore areas of Bombay, Cambay and Sand head appear

to be the nursery grounds. They are pelagic and are caught

mainly in driftnet, trawl net and dolnet. The estimated MSYfor P.

argenteus for Indian waters is 38,194 t while for F. niger is 20,446t.

The fishery of P. argenteus has collapsed in Maharashtra due to

growth and recruitment overfishing

Khan, Mohammad Zafar

CMFRI Digital Repository

Marine Research and Management Editors V.N. Pillai and N.G. Menon Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (Indian Council of Agricultural Research) Tatapuram P.O., Cochin-682 014 Kerala, India 2000 24 The fishery and resource characteristics of pomfrets Mohammed Zafar Khan ABSTRACT Pomfrets contribute to about 2% in all India fish catch. They are abundant along the coasts of Maharashtra, Gujarat and Orissa. Pampus argenteus forms 65.9%, Formio niger 33.2% and Pampus chinensis 0.9% of the catch. They feed on planktonic organisms like salps, medusae and ctenophores. Both P. argenteus and F. niger have prolonged spawning with two peaks. The breeding ground of P. argenteus is the depth realm 55-90 m offCambay and Sand head; while the inshore areas of Bombay, Cambay and Sand head ap-pear to be the nursery grounds. They are pelagic and are caught mainly in driftnet, trawl net and dolnet. The estimated MSYfor P. argenteus for Indian waters is 38,194 t while for F. niger is 20,446t. The fishery of P. argenteus has collapsed in Maharashtra due to growth and recruitment overfishing. Introduction Pomfrets belonging to the family Stromateidae, enjoy wide distribution in the depth upto 1 50 m of tropics. They are highly relished table fishes in internal and export markets and command high unit value. The annual aver-age catch of 38,090 t, forming about 2% of all India marine landings, com-pr ises of Pampus argenteus (65.9%), Formio niger (33.2%) and Pampus chinensis (0.9%). Most of their production is from Gujarat and Maharashtra in the Northwest coast and Orissa in the Northeast coast of India. In spite of The fishery and resourc'e cliaractcrt»tic» of pomfref their economic Importance, the research inputs on the biology, fishery and population dynamics from the distributional range are scanty and scattered over a couple of decades. Some of the research works worth mentioning are those of Kuthal lngam (1962), Gopalan (1967), Patl (1980, 1982, 1983), Sulochanan and Rao (1964), Kagwade (1990) and Khan et al. (1992). Material and methods The catch and effort data collected by the Fishery Resource and Assess-ment Division of the C.M.F.R. Institute were utilized for the present s tudies . In addition, length data were collected from one of the landing centres of the respective s ta te . Biological Information on food and feeding habi ts and matu-ration and spawning were also collected. Growth parameters , Leo and K, were estimated using ELEFAN 1 programme (Gayanllo et al, 1988). Mortality esti-mates were made following length converted catch curve. Est imates of MSY were made using relative yield per recruit programme of ELEFAN 2. Yield (catch in weight) and stock biomass were predicted for various levels of fishing effort using length converted Thompson and Bell analysis (Sparre, 1985). The out-put of Jone ' s length cohort analysis, namely the recrui tment and fisjiing mortalities formed the Inputs for length converted Thompson and Bell analy-sis. Craft and gear Mostly two types of gill net ters namely dugout canoes and plank built boats are operated. The dugout canoes are mostly mechanised with outboard engine of 6-9 hp, whereas plank built boats varied in shape and size in vari-ous s ta tes according to the local design and fitted with inboard engine of 24-85 hp . Pomfrets are mainly landed in drift net of 140-155mm mesh size. Smaller mesh size of 70- 130mm are also in vogue in some s ta tes . Most of the trawlers operated are 13-15m OAL with 58-102 hp engine. Mostly shrimp trawl of 10m length is used with cod end mesh of 15-20mm. Dol net is oper-ated mainly from plank built boats viz. wahan and machhua in Gujarat while Lodhlya and Satpatl in Maharashtra . Biology and behaviour Mostly digested material and gelatenous subs tance were recorded in the s tomach con ten t of P. argenteus. On very few occas ions copepods and "365" Marine FUheries Research and Management amphipods were noticed among digested materials. On one occasion young ones of Apogon spp; Myctophum spp; Nematopalaetnon tenuipes and fish scales were also observed in large sized specimens. The stromatelds possess toothed pharyngeal sac which acts as grinding mill and converts the food into a pulpy mass (Haedrich, 1967). Most of the earlier workers consider copepods a very important part of diet (Rege, 1958; Kuthalingam, 1967 and Rao, 1967). Pati (1980) recorded copepods 3.87 to 19.22% and semldigested matter 67.4 to 90.4%. Many workers have recorded salps, medusae and ctenophores (Rege, 1958; Chopra, 1960 and Haedrich, 1967). Those maserated semldigested ma-terials may in all probability be salp, medusae and ctenophores. F. niger is a ca rn ivo re feeding on la rge zoop lank ton lc o r g a n i s m viz. c r u s t a c e a n s , polychaetes, cuttle fish. The salps, Tasis zonaria may be considered as indi-cation of abundance of F. Niger (Sivaprakasam, 1963). Gopalan (1967) observed that the size at first maturi ty for P. argenteus male and female is 22cm and 26cm total length respectively. Pati (1982) recorded size at first maturi ty at 15cm for males and 17cm s tandard length for females. There are two spawning periods for P. argenteus with peaks In April and August on the east-coast of India (Pati, 1982). Prolonged spawning season extending from February to August with peak during April to J u n e has been reported by Gopalan (1967) on the west coast; whereas two peak spawning periods have been noticed during February-August by Bapat et al. (1982). Hussain and Abdullah (1977) observed that spawning of P. argenteus spreads over a long period of time, beginning in April and extending to Sep-t e m b e r w i th p e a k in Apr i l -May a n d S e p t e m b e r in Kuwai t i w a t e r s . Gonadosomatic index also indicated 2 peak spawning. Two peak periods, one in October another in February-April appear in the occurrence of small sized fish (Khan. 1982). Ova diameter studies have Indicated that the species spawns in two batches . F. niger is known to have a prolonged spawning season ex-tending from July to October with peak in August to September (Sivaprakasam, 1965). Prolonged spawning season extending from November to March has also been reported by Bapat et al. (1982). Observations at Cochin indicated that F. niger spawns twice in a year with a major peak during June-Septem-ber and a minor one during January-February A fish, however spawns only once a year (Sivaprakasam, 1965). The size at first maturi ty was estimated to be 275 mm (Khan et al. 1992). The fishery and re«ource characteri«tlc» of pomfret» P. argenteus exhibits diurnal migration. Hence drift gill net is operated at night and bottom drift gill net during day. The movement of fish coincide with the vertical ascend and descend of its main food Item copepod (Patl, 1980). Both P. argenteus and F. niger, move in bigger shoals and bumper landings are often reported (Perumal and Algarswami, 1980 and Kagwade, 1987). However, both catch rate and catch were better in pelagic trawl during survey by M.T. 'Muraena' (Bapat et al. 1982). The species though available at all depth ranges up to 360m the species occur in large numbers In the depth range 55-90m. Young ones of P. argenteus are landed in dol net in the Gulf of Cambay and also in the Gulf of Kutch along the Bombay coast, indicating that inshore water is the nursery ground of the fish particularly in Gulf of Cambay. Only stray young ones of F. niger are landed indicating that its breeding ground and nursery ground are away from the shore. In P. argenteus speciatlon is in progress (Pati, 1983). Fishery On an average pomfrets contributed 38,090 t during 1985-93 forming about 1.93% of the total marine fish landed in India. P. argenteus contributed 25111 t forming 65.9%, F. niger 12662 t forming 33.2% and P. chinensis 337t forming 0.9%. The following s tates contributed to the fishery and landings of P. argenteus and F. niger. Maharashtra: On an average pomfrets contributed 12600 t (1985-93) forming 4.18% of the total catch in Maharashtra , shared by P. argenteus (8464 t), F. niger (4116 t) and P. chinensis (20 t). Their landings showed a decline compared to 1975-1984 (15740 t forming 5.8%). The maximum con-tribution was from the district of Thane (62.3%) followed by Greater Bombay (21.2%), Ratnaglri (10.8%) and Ralgad (5.6%). P. argenteus had high CPUE in September-October in gill net and September-November and April-May in dol net. Ratnaglri district contributed 44.5% of the total F. niger landings in Maharasht ra . Gujarat: An estimated average catch of 9917 t of pomfrets were landed in Gujarat forming 3% of the total catch. P. argenteus consti tuted 7830 t while F. niger 2061 t and P. chinensis only 26 t. The catch indicated a declin-Marine Fi»berie« Reiearch and Management ing trend when compared to earlier average of 10974 t (1975-84). Saurash t ra contributed 62.3%, Jamnagar 21.4%, South Gujarat 13.0% and Kutch 3.3% in the total pomfret landings (Kagwade, 1987). The CPUE was high in April-September. Karnataka: The state contributed 2117 t forming 1.16% of the total fish landed. F. niger formed a major fishery contributing to 1657 t (78.3%), P. argenteus 394 t (18.6%) and P. chinensis 66 t (3.1%). Peak landings were recorded in third or fourth quarter . Kerala: Pomfret fishery in Kerala formed only less than 1% of the total catch in the state. The estimated catch was 1923 t comprising of F. niger 1106 t (57.5%), P. argenteus 732 t (38.1%) and P. chinensis 85 t (4.4%). The peak CPUE was during February-April and August-October in drift net. Young ones of P. argenteus in the size range 35-70mm were caught in trawlers dur-ing September-December. West Bengal: Pomfrets formed an important fishery in West Bengal with an average catch of 22881 forming 5.16% of the total catch. P. argenteus contributed 17641 (77.1%), F. niger 473t (20.7%) and P. chinensis 51t (2.2%) towards their fishery. Pomfret's production registered a general increase from 531 t in 1975 to 5775 t In 1983. Maximum landings were at 24 Parganas district (66%) and Midnapur (34%). The peak catches were made during the fourth quarter (69%) followed by first (14.97%) and third quarter (14.67%). Orissa: Pomfrets formed an important fishery (7.2% of the total fish landed), P. argenteus was the major species with a mean catch of 28261 (72.2%), followed by F. niger 944t (24.8%) and P. chinensis 40t (1.0%). The pomfret landing was very erratic in Orissa and fluctuated from 106991 (1976) to 90721 (1980). Gill net caught 58.2% and remaining by trawl net and the non-mechanised gear. Peak landings were recorded during fourth quarter (44%) followed by third (20%) and second (16%). District of Balasore contributed 77% of the catch (Scariah et al. 1987). Andhra Pradesh: Pomfrets formed 2.4% of the total catch in the state The fishery and resource characteristics of pomfreta. (3234t) shared by P. argenteus. 1990t (61.5%) and F. niger. 1236t (38.2%). Peak seasons of abundance were first and the fourth quarter. They were fished by drift gill net and trawl net. Tamil Nadu: Pomfrets formed only 0.4% of the total fish catch. Species composition indicated the dominance of P. argenteus. 957t (74.8%), followed by F. niger 285t (22.2%) and P. chinensis 37t (3.0%). Stock assessments of silver pomfret Length weight relationships: Length weight relationship estimated for Gujarat: Log W = 4.67166 + 3.07696 Log L; for Maharashtra: Log W = 4.49568 + 3.005864 Log L indicated a cubic relation. Age and growth: The size range in drift net was 110-360mm, in trawl net 110-330 mm and in dol net 15-299mm. The growth curve of P.argenteus at Gujarat by ELEFAN I is given in Fig. 1. U = 395 K=07 R„ ^0-296 L(in) Fig.I. The growth curve of P.argenteus (Gujarat) identified by ELEFAN I 369" Marine Fl8herie« Research and Management The Looand K values estimated by ELEFAN 1 at different s tate are given below Gujarat Maharashtra Karnataka Loo (mm) 395 390 360 K (Annual) 0.7 0.7 0.69 Mortality and stock size (Gujarat): Total Ins tantaneous mortal-ity coefficient (Z) estimated by length converted catch curve analysis was 3.165 with regression coefficient of 0.97 for the period 1981-84 (Flg.2). The F/Z was 0.668. Length at first capture (Lc) was estimated to be 46 mm. The rela-tive yield per recruit (YW/R) Indicated Emax at 0.413 with Lc/Looratio 0.12 and M/K 1.5 (Fig.3). Maximum sustainable yield (MSY) Is estimated as 16265t when the average yield Is 10038t with F /Z 0.668 indicating a 38% reduction in the effort. Low size at first capture and high F/Z indicate growth overfishing. Ln(N/(l-«xp(-Z X ^t)) ) II 9 7 5-3 I Z « 3 I 6 5 2. AGE O I RELATIVE Flg.2. Total Instantaneous inoi-iallty coefficient (Z) estimated by length converted catch curve analysis of P.argenteus (Gujarat) -C370 -The fishery and roource characteristics of pomfrets •2 -3 A -5 -6 r e 9 EXPLOITATION RATE l O Flg.3. The relative yield per recruit YW/R of P.argenteus (Maharashtra). Mortality and stock size (Maharashtra): The estimated values (1993-95) for Z = 4.033, F /Z = 0.74, L^= 232.2 mm and B_^ ^^  based on LyL^= 0.59 and M/K = 1.5 as 0.8514. The present F /Z of 0.74 Indicate scope for effort increase. The MSY, based on the E^^JO.561), Is estimated at 10231 t, when average current yield Is 4740 t with present E = 0.74. Mortality and stock size (Karnataka): Z estimated was 5.054 and MSY 374 t and average catch 346 t at relative fishing effort of 0.5, Indicating tha t stocks at Karnataka were heavily fished. Stock assessment of black pomfret Length-weight relationship of F. ntger along Kerala is Log W = -4.26513 + 2.7921841 Log L. The growth parameters based on drift net catch are Loo = 560 mm and K = 0.73 (annual). In Kerala, the estimated Z was 4.4 and MSY 1055 t at relative fishing effort of 0.8, suggesting the need to reduce the effort by 20% (Khan et al 1992). -C37T>-Marine Flgherieg Regearch and Management K a r n a t a k a a l s o gave a s i m i l a r t r e n d w i th Z a s 6 . 4 5 a n d MSY 1856 t a t a re la t ive f i sh ing effort of 0 . 4 1 3 i n d i c a t i n g t h a t t h e effort s h o u l d b e d e c r e a s e d by 6 0 % (Khan et al. 1992) . A c k n o w l e d g e m e n t T h e a u t h o r Is t h a n k f u l t o Dr. M. Devara j , Di rec tor , CMFR I n s t i t u t e , Kochl for h i s e n c o u r a g e m e n t . T h e a s s i s t a n c e of S h r l H.K. D h o k l a , S h r l J . D . S e r a n g a n d S h r l B .B . C h a v a n in col lec t ion a n d a n a l y s i s of field d a t a is a c k n o w l -edged . References Bapat, S.V., V.M. Deshmukh, B. Krlshnamoorthy, C. Muthiah, P.V. Kagwade, C.P. Ramamirtham, K.J. Mathew, S.Krishna Pillal, and C.Mukundan 1982. Fish-ery resources of the Exclusive Economic Zone of the North West coast of India. CMFRI Bulletin 33: 61-62. Chopra. S. 1960. A note on the sudden outburst of ctenophores and medusae in the waters off Bombay. Curr. Set., 29(10) : 392-393. Gayanilo, F.C. Jr . . M. Soriano and D. Pauly 1988. A draft guide to the complete ELEFAN ICLARM software Project 2:65p and 10 diskettes (5.25 inches, 360 K). Gopalan, U.K. 1967. Studies on the maturity and spawning of Silver Pomfret, Pampus argenteus (Euphs.) in the Arabian sea. Bull. Nation. Inst. Scien. India, 38: 785-796. Haedrlch, R.L. 1967. The stromateld fishes, systematlcs and classification. Bull. Mus. Comp. Zoo. Harward. 135 (2): 31-139. Hussain, N.A. and M.A.S. Abudllah 1977. The length weight relationship, spawning season and food habits of six commercial fishes in Kuwaiti waters. In-dian J. Fish.. 24: 181-194. Kagwade, P.V. 1987. Pomfret resources along the North-West coast of India. Proc. Na-tion. Acad. Science: 220-224. Khan, M.Z. 1982. A probable nursery ground of Silver Pomfret Pampus argenteus "372" The fishery and resource characteristics of pomfrets (Eupher.) off Nawabunder (Gujarat). Indian J. Fish.. 29 (1&2): 257-261. Khan, M.Z., M. Kumaran , A .A. Jayaprakash , K.S .Scar iah , V.M.Deshmukh a n d M.H.Dhulkhed 1992. Stock assessment of pomfrets off west coast of In-dia. Indian J. Fish., 39 (3,4): 249-259. Kuthalingam, M.D.K. 1962. Observations on the fishery and biology of Silver Pomfret Pampus argenteus (Euphrasen) from Bay of Bengal. Indian J. Fish., 10(1): 59-74. Pati, S. 1980. Food and feeding habits of silver pomfret Pampus argenteus ( Euphr.) from Bay of Bengal with a note on its significance in fishery. Indian J. Fish.. 27: 244-256. Pati, S. 1982. Studies on the maturation spawning and migration of Silver Pomfret, Pampus argenteus (Euphrasen) from Bay of Bengal. Matsya 8: 12-22. Pati, S. 1983. Systematic comparison of stromateld fishes of the Genus Panyius. J. Mar. Biol. Ass. India. 20 (1 & 2): 50-64. Perumal and K. Algarswami 1970. On a record landings of pomfret in the Indian wa-ters. Curr. Set. 8: 16-18. Rao, K.S. 1967. Food and feeding habits of fishes from trawl catches in the Bay of Bengal with observation on the diurnal variation in the na ture of food. Indian J. Fish.. 11(1): 277-314. Rege, M.S. 1958. A study of stromateld fishes of Bombay. Ph.D. Thesis, University oj Bombay. Sivaprakasam, T. 1963. Observation on the food and feeding habits of Parastromateus niger (Bloch) off Saurasht ra coast. Indian J. Fish, 10 (1): 140-148. Sivaprakasam, T. 1965. Observations on the maturation and spawning of Brown pomfret. Parastromateus niger (Bloch) in Saurasht ra waters. J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 62: 245-253. Sparre. P. 1985. Introduction to tropical fish stock assessment , Rome, FAO, Denmark Fund-in-Trust. FI:GCP/392/DEN, Manual 1-333 p. Sulochanan, P. and K.K. Rao 1964. On the vertical distribution of Silver pomfret, {Pampus argenteus Euph.) in the bottom drift gill net off Veraval and Porbunder. Indian J. Fish.. 11 B: 9-14. 

The fishery and resource characteristics of

pomfrets

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The fishery and resource characteristics of pomfrets

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