The coral reef ecosystem supports a wide variely of flora and fauna and Gulf of Mannar is one of its kind, located in the south-east of India. It comprises 21 islands along the 140 km stretch between Tuticorin and Rameswaram

Gandhi, A

Geetha, P M

Manisseri, Mary K

Ramamoorthy, N

Thomas, V J

Varghese, Molly

CMFRI Digital Repository

Fishing Chimes Vol. 31 No.1/Apri12011 Cora,1 reel Os,hes 01 Gun of Maunar, S.E _India Molly Varghese, Mary K.Manisseri, N.Ramamurthy, P.M.Geetha, V.J.Thomas and A.Gandhi Mandapam Regional Centre of CMFRI, Mandapam Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute, Cochin The coral reef ecosys ~m SUPp'orts a wide variely of flora and launa an(l GuJr of Mallnar fS one of lis kind, loealed In the south-east or India. It oomprises 21 slands along llle '140 km slmtch bel '/oon Tulfco.rin and Rami1swaram. The map of Gulrof Mennar showing tho 21 lslantts is given In Fig.1. It is one of the Marine Biosphere Reserves in India and the extensive areas of coral reefs have a variety of food fishes and ornamental fishes. There is an organised fishery fromlhe ooral reel arl;l8S of Gulf of Mannar and the present study Is a cO lnpre lenslva work om the landings of lishery ra.sourees in Ihis ecosystem, The raClI fishes ware collected from seleCled landing cenlres and stUdied qualilatively for lhe period f rom J una j 2006 to Novembor, 2010. The r shing methods prEl,c t~ed at Ihese centres ware: tr wll l1g, gillnetllng, fishing by traps and by hooks & lioBeS. A IOlal 01 183 species belonglrlg 10 5 families were recorded. A family wIse IIsl allhe reli! .ish species observed from Gulf of Mannar is given in Table 1. Table 1. Family wise list of coral reef fishes observed il1 Gulf of Mannar during 2006 - 2010 1.Family Dasyatidae 1, Neotrygon kuhlii 2, Pastinachus sephen 3,Himantura uarnak 2.Family Myliobatidae 4.Aetobatus narinari 5. Rhinoptera javanica 3.Family Rhinobatidae 6.Rhynchobatus djiddensis 4.Family Acanthuridae 7. Acanlhurus gahhm 8, A/inealus 9,Amata 1 O.A. nigricauda 11.A. triostegLis 12. Axanthopterus 13Zebrasoma velifer 5.Family Antennariidae 14,Antennarius pictus 6.Family Apogonidae 15,Apogon aureus 7.Family Aulostomidae 16,Aulostomus chinensis B.Family Balistidae 17. Balistoides viridescens Fig. I. ~'.lap of Gulf of tvlallnar showi ng the fslands 18,Odonus niger 19. Sufflamen fraenatum 9.Family Belonidae 20.Strongylura leiura " V ~:\N rse /H~n !(.A:~UV~AH JSL:~NP J l<AHAiCH.·,tL! mU~;.H.J <~ \i}LhtfGUGI'U,L ~~~ l$ tAND iJf'rtnl ~ANNl *s t./\t;O c rUU.tVUN~HCl!JU.t) :~H.J~Nb N/l.;~ , LATH;\.Nf.)¥ !S !~.;HJrJ .;; ;d,;,.·'.lPl~R ~S t • .f;"Nn I), \(t~UJh~Ut'li~~II~iLANU i(>. r;l}t)V!~Rr~SANllt;.Tt~ r:HJ'dJtl: 1~~, -vAU\I,SLANn -1. Pf,lH U ~ $l J'tND 1 ~; u.t,fr>\L I t { .i'in~~ tSl..t\!\(t ir,; ;"F~NOLl !S t;\i'li,i i"l M·\NOUF-urj"i ;SL ... \~ifj ! I I .... uV'<'t~~\ L j!ftANtJ t:: · F\h.:~l!AtH(';H " ~~ 1 ~) tA nl) iij ~T~U3Af>.\ : lS tJ~fJD 1 1 ;::.'1 W:~~ilJ: 1 SL~'iJ"NU 50, C. octofasciatus 51. C.pfebeius 52, C. trifasciafis 53. C. trifasciatus 21. Tyfosurus crocodifus crocodifus 54, C. vagabundus 10.Family Caesionidae 22. Caesio caerulaurea 23, C, cuning 24.C, xanthonota 25, Pterocaesio chrysozona 11.Family Carangidae 26,Afectis indica 27.A ciliaris 2B.Afepes djedaba 29.Atufe mate 30,Carangoides armatus 31. C. chrysophrys 32, C. coeruleopinna tus 33. C. hedfandensis 34,Caranx heberi 35. C. hippos 36, Gnathanodon speciosus 37.Megafaspis cordyfa 3B.Parastromateus niger 39.Scomberoides commersonnianus 40, S, fysan 41. S, tala 42, S. tol 43,Sefar crumenophthalmus 44,Selaroides leptolepis 12.Family Chaetodontidae 45, Chaetodon auriga 46, C. collare 47.C. decussatus 48.C. gardineri 49.C.lunula 55. C,xanthocephalus 56,Heniochus acuminatus 13.Family Chirocentridae 57.Chirocentrus dorab 14.Family Clupeidae 58. Ambfygaster sirm 59. Sardinella albella 60, S. gibbosa 15.Family Dactylopteridae 61,Oactyfoptena orientafis 16.Family Drepaneidae 62.orepane punctata 17.Family Ephippidae 63.Ephippus orbis 64.Platax teira 18.Family Fistulariidae 65, Fistularia petimba 19.Family Haemulidae 66.0iagramma picla 67.Plectorhinchus afbovittatus 68, P diagrammus 69,p gaterinus 70.Ppictus 71,pschotaf 72.Pomadasys maculatus 20.Family Holocentridae 73,Myripristis murdjan 74.Sargocentron rubrum 21.Family Labridae 75. Cheilinus chlorourus Cont'd next page"" c1f[ Im. :~,{ _______________________________ _ 1a;I ,~v' < '\ Fishing Chimes Cont'd from pre page .... 76. C. undulatus 77. Coris formosa 78. Halichoeres hortulanus 79. H. nigrescens 80.H. zeylonicus 81. Hemigymnus melapterus 82. Thalassoma lunare 22.Family Latidae 83.Psammoperca waigiensis 23.Family Lethrinidae 84.Gymnocranius griseus 85.Lethrinus harak 86.L. lent jan 87.L. mahsena 88. L. microdon 89.L. miniatus 90.L. nebulosus 91.L. ornatus 92. L. variegatus 24.Family Lutjanidae 93.Aphareus rutilans 94.Aprion virescens 95. Lutjanus argentimaculatus 96. L. bengalensis 97.L. bohar 98.L. decussatus 99. L. fulviflamma 100.L. fulvus 101.L. gibbus 102.L. kasmira 103.L. lemniscatus 104. L. lutjanus 105.L. madras 106.L. quinquelineatus 107.L. rivulatus 108. L. russelli 109. L. vitta 110.Pinjalo pinjalo 25.Family Malacanthidae 111. Malacanthus latovittatus 26.Family Menidae 112.Mene maculata 27.Family Monacanthidae 113.Acreichthys tomentosus 114.Aluterus monoceros 28.Family Mugilidae 115. Valamugil seheli 29.Family Mullidae 116.Mulloidichthys flavolineatus 117.Parupeneus barberinus 118. P forsskali 119.P heptacanthus 120. P indicus 121.P maeronemus 122. Upeneus moluccensis 123. U. tragula 124. U. vittatus 30.Family Muraenidae 125.Gymnothorax favagineus 126.G.punctatus 127. Uropterygius concolor 31.Family Nemipteridae 128.Nemipterus furcosus Vol. 31 No.1 IApril2011 Fig.2. Major families in terms of number of species observed during tile present study HHCmuikliJ I~~~~~~~~~~~~~;~~=======:::J Ct;JDOtodon D Carangidao \ Caesionidae ~C!:::::~~~ Acallthuridao ~r;::::::-::::-::::-::::-::::::~ .. (J 1 Fig.3. Gesrwlse and spocioswiso landing of roof fishes from Gulf or Mannar HotLom !HJ"t Gntnu~ 16'11. Hook & Line 10 9'0 129. Seolopsis bimaeulata 1 30. S. vosmeri 32.Family Ostraciidae 131 .Ostracion eubicus 132. Tetrosomus gibbosus 33.Family Pempheridae 133. Pempheris molueea 34.Family Platycephalidae 134. Coeiella erocodilus 35.Family Plotosidae 135. Plotosus lineatus 36.Family Pomacanthidae 136.Apolemichthys xanthurus 137.Pomacanthus semicirculatus 37.Family Pomacentridae 138.Abudefduf bengalensis 139.A. saxatilis 140. A. septemfasciatus 141. A. vaigiensis 3a.Family Priacanthidae 142. Priacanthus hamrur 39.Family Rachycentridae 143.Rachycentron canadum 40.Family Scaridae 145. Leptoscarus vaigiensis 146. Searus ghobban 147. S. psittacus 41.Family Scorpaenidae 148.Pterois russeJli 149. Rhinopias eschmeyeri 150. Scorpaenopsis gibbosa 42.Family Serranidae 151.Cephalopholis argus 152.C.boenak · 153.C. formosa 154.C.sonnerati 155.Epinephelus chlorostigma 156. E. coeruleopunctatus 157. E. corallicola 158. E. fasciatus 159. E. flavocaeruleus 160. E. longispinis 161. E. maeulatus 162.E. malabaricus 163. E. merra 164. E.polyphekadion 165.E. tauvina 166. E. undulosus Tr.awl 47%. 144. Bolbometopon muricatum Cont'd next page.".~ ------------------------------>~,;:.~;.mw.·--Fishing Chimes Cont'd from pre page .... 167.Pogonoperca ocellata 43.Family Siganidae 168. Siganus canaliculatus 169.S. javus 170. S.linea tus 171.S.spinus 44.Family Sillaginidae 172. Sil/ago sihama 45.Family Soleidae 173. Pardachirus pavoninus 46.Family Sphyraenidae 174.Sphyraena barracuda 175. S. flavicauda 176. S.jel/o 47.Family Synodontidae 177.Saurida tumbil 178. Trachinocephalus myops 48.Family Tetraodontidae 179.Arothron hispidus 180.A. stellatus 49.Family Tetrarogidae 181.Ablabys binotatus 50. Family Terapontidae 182. Terapon theraps 51.Family Zanclidae 183.Zanclus comutus Out of the 183 species of Cartilaginous and Bony fishes recorded, 7 species namely, Chaetodon plebeius, C. gardineri, Rhinopias esehmeyeri, Ablabys binotatus, Pleetorhinehus gaterinus, Parupeneus forsskali and Pogonoperea oeellata are new records from India as per Fish Base. The present study also confirms identification of seven species, viz. Acanthurus gahhm, Caranx hippos, Plectorhinchus diagrammus, Lethrinus miniatus , Pempheris molucca, Scorpaenopsis gibbosa and Epinephelus coral/ieola, occurrence of which in India is questionable as per FishBase. Of the 183 species observed, the major families in terms of number of species are depicted in Fig .2; those families having less than 4 species are not shown in this figure. From the graph it is clear that the families Carangidae, Lutjanidae and Serranidae dominated considerably with 19, 18 and 17 species respectively. The number of species of reef fishes landed by different fishing gears employed in Gulf of Mannar is depicted in Fig.3. The trawl landings constitute the maximum number with 144 species , followed by trap with 81 species, bottom Vol. 31 No.1 IApril2011 set gillnet with 47 species ; the least number of 29 species being recorded by hooks & lines. -As per IUCN Red List, the status is not evaluated with respect to most of the fishes observed during the present study. Among those evaluated, Cheilinus undulatus is an Endangered species (EN); Bolbometopon muricatum, Himantura uamak, Rhinoptera javaniea and Rhynchobatus djiddensis are Vulnerable species (VU); Epinephelus malabaricus, E.polyphekadion and Aetobatus narinari are Near Threatened species (NT); Neotrygon kuhfii, Pastinachus sephen, Epinephelus coral/icola, Etauvina and Eundulosus are grouped as Data Deficient (DO) and 11 species viz . Cephalophofis argus, C.boenak, C. formosa, C.sonnerati, Epinephelus chlorostigma, E. coeruleopunctatus , E. fasciatus, E.flavocaeruleus, E. longispinis , E. maculatus and E merra are considered as Least Concern species (LC). Hence, it is necessary to take proper conservation measures in order to ensure sustainable utilisation, avoiding likely depletion of the endangered and vulnerable species and degradation of the fragile ecosystem. ~ Olive Ridley hatchlings released into sea at Visakhapatnam According to a report by Nivedita Ganguly in the Hindu 18 th April 2011 , the first batch of Olive Ridley sea turtle hatchlings from the hatchery opposite Police Mess at R . K. Beach of Visakhapatnam was released by Chief Conservator of Forests, Pradeep Kumar on 17 April 2011 morning. A total of 260 turtle hatchlings were released into the sea. The initiative was launched by Visakha Society for Protection and Care of Animals (VSPCA) in association with the Forest Department. The Tree Foundation, Chennai and the Winsome Constance Kindness Trust, Australia, extend support to protect the globally threatened species, along Vizag beaches. "VSPCA has been involved in the protection of the endangered turtles since 1996-97. This year, so far, 330 nestings have been sighted , with the possibility of releasing 33,330 hatchlings into the sea by the end of the season, by May 2011 e.nd, Vis a khapatnam is a sporadic nesting site of th e Olive Ridley turtles . Conservationists say that the hatchery system is effective in the region as it reduces the damage due to various disturbances in the area . The incubation period is usually between 45-51 days under natural conditions, but may extend to 70 days in poor weather conditions. It takes another four to five days for the hatchlings to come out. The success rate of the hatcheries is said to be 90 per cent , making it an effective method in the conservation of the Olive Ridleys. The Olive Ridley is classified as 'vulnerable' according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN), and is listed in Appendix I of Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). Hatching success can be dependent on beach, year, changing environmental conditions and rates of nest predation . Hatchlings are preyed upon, when they travel across the beach into water, by vultures, frigate birds , crabs, raccoons, coyotes, iguanas, and snakes. In the water, hatchling predators include oceanic fishes, sharks, and crocodiles. IN SAFE HANDS: A conservationist with a handful of Olive Ridley hatchlings was in charge before releasing them into the sea in Visakhapatnam. The founder president of Visakha Society for Protection and Care of Animals (VSPCA), Mr. Pradeep Kumar Nath, who coordinated the event, said the VSPCA has been involved in protection of Olive Ridley turtles since 1996. The forest department extended financial support last year in setting up hatcheries from Visakhapatnam to Bhimili. Mr. Nath said this year so far 330 nestings had been sighted and there was a possibility to release 33,00 hatchlings into the sea by end of the season in May 2011. He said sinc e 1996, five lakh hatchlings had been released into the sea . This year more hatcheries would be set up on the coast uplo Srikakulam and create awaren ess among the people in October thi s year, Mr. Nath said. -

Coral reef fishes of Gulf of Mannar, S.E of India

http://eprints.cmfri.org.in/8516/1/Fishing_Chimes_vol.31_no.1_april_2011.pdf

Coral reef fishes of Gulf of Mannar, S.E of India

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