India is endowed with a long coastline of 8129 km. Being tropical country, the marine

ecosystem bordering Indian sub-continent contain large number of species adapted to wide

range of habitats, from mangrove swamps, estuaries, saline lagoons, sea grass meadows,

sandy/ muddy/rocky coasts, coral reefs, oceanic islands to deep oceanic realms. Theses

resources are supporting the marine fishery of the country. The water spread of continental

shelf is 0.5 million sq. km and of EEZ is 2.02 million sq. km. The annual catchable marine

fishery potential of the EEZ is 4.42 million tonnes. India is one of the leading nation of the

world in marine fish production and export

Abdussamad, E M

CMFRI Digital Repository

Pelagic fin fishery resources of India 28 Summer School on Advanced Methods for Fish Stock Assessment and Fisheries Management 29Summer School on Advanced Methods for Fish Stock Assessment and Fisheries ManagementPELAGIC FIN FISHERY RESOURCES OF INDIA E. M. AbdussamadPelagic Fishery Resources DivisionICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research InstituteIntroductionIndia is endowed with a long coastline of 8129 km. Being tropical country, the marine ecosystem bordering Indian sub-continent contain large number of species adapted to wide range of habitats, from mangrove swamps, estuaries, saline lagoons, sea grass meadows, sandy/ muddy/rocky coasts, coral reefs, oceanic islands to deep oceanic realms. Theses resources are supporting the marine fishery of the country. The water spread of continental shelf is  0.5 million sq. km and of EEZ is 2.02 million sq. km.  The annual catchable marine fishery potential of  the  EEZ is 4.42 million tonnes. India is one of the leading nation of the world  in marine fish production and export.Growth in Marine FisheriesCoastal marine fishery made remarkable growth since mechanisation started in early sixties. The marine fish production increased steadily from  0.68 million t in 1961 to 3.94 million t in 2012. This increase may be attributed mainly to the increase in fishing intensity coupled with introduction of mechanised fishing vessels, motorisation of the country crafts, modernisation of harvesting techniques coupled and extension of fishing to deeper waters. Mechanisation and diversification of fishing have slowly extended fishing activity beyond the continental shelf. Adoption of advanced techniques to detect resources and to identify productive ground and use of fish aggregating devices added to the efficiency of fishing operation. Yield of pelagic resources also registered similar growth as of total marine production from 0.44 to 2.1   million t by 2011. Fishery registered marginal decline thereafter.Marine Finfish Resources Fishery resources are classified broadly as pelagic and demersal based on their distribution in the water column. Pelagics are diverse group of small to large fishes which occupy mainly the surface and column layers of the water mass. Most of them are characterised by their 3Pelagic fin fishery resources of India 28 Summer School on Advanced Methods for Fish Stock Assessment and Fisheries Management 29Summer School on Advanced Methods for Fish Stock Assessment and Fisheries Managementshoaling behaviour. Large numbers of species which are either bottom dwelling or inhabiting mainly along the lower layers of water column are termed as demersal resources. Assessment of the stocks of major exploited resources from the coastal waters have revealed the present level of fishing pressure, which each resource is experiencing.Oil sardineThe resource is represented by a single species, Sardinella longiceps and   distributed widely along the Indo-Pacific region. They form the mainstay of pelagic fishery of India. They occur all along the Indian coast. Till recently their abundance was largely restricted to the coastal waters between Quilon and Ratnagiri with 90% of the reported fishery from this area alone. However, in recent years, they emerged as the major resource along the entire  east coast up to Orissa waters towards north. Lesser sardinesNearly 13 species constituted the resource and fishery. They occur along the entire Indian coast but their abundance and fishery confined largely to the inshore waters of Kerala, Tamilnadu and Andhrapradesh. It include 10 species under the genus Sardinella, two species under Dussumieria and  Esculosa thoracat.  Dominant species are Sardinella gibbosa, S.albell,a S.fimbriata S.dayii  and S.sirm. Species show discontinuous distribution. DorabsThey are non-shoaling fishes, abundant along both east and west coast with large abundance along the southeast coast. Two species namely, Chirocentrus dorab and C.nudus supported the resource and fishery.  Large abundance in shallow waters between 10 –30  m depth. They migrate to deeper waters for spawning. They usually form fishery along with other resources.  Their average annual landing is 18,403 t during the last decade, forming 0.6% of the total marine production. 50% of the total landing is from the Tamilnadu coast between Palkbay and Gulf of Mannar. AnchoviesResources and fishery are supported by species belonging to the genera Stolephores, Thryssa, Thryssina, Coilia and Setipinna. White bait belonging to the genus Stolephores constitite nearly 70% of the catch. They are abundant in coastal waters of 5-20 m depth. 90% of the resource was concentrated in area between Ratnagiri and Gulf of Mannar. Abundance of other anchovies are relatively large along the coastal waters of Andhra, Tamilnadu, Kerala, Karnataka and Maharashtra. Pelagic fin fishery resources of India 30 Summer School on Advanced Methods for Fish Stock Assessment and Fisheries Management 31Summer School on Advanced Methods for Fish Stock Assessment and Fisheries ManagementOther ClupeidsSeveral species belonging to different genera, Pellona, Hilsa, Ilisha, Elops, Megalops, Anadontosoma etc. support the fishery. They are widely distributed along the east and west coast, with large abundance along the east coast. MackerelResource is represented by three species in Indian waters. However more than 98% of the stock and fishery was supported by Indian mackerel, Rastrelliger kanagurta alone. R.brachisoma and R.faugni form sporadic fishery respectively  in Andaman  Madras waters. Mackerel is abundant in coastal waters within 25 m depth. Nearly 80-90% of the total mackerel catch is from west coast. However in recent years, their abundance and fishery is on the increase along east coast.  The present average production was 176,103 t during the last decade and constitute nearly 5.7% of the  marine fish production during this period.TunasThese are typical oceanic fast swimming and highly migratory pelagic fishes and most of them have cosmopolitan distribution. Resource is represented by nine species belonging to the genus Auxis, Euthynnus, Thunnus Katsuonus  Sarda and Gymnosarda. These are typical shoaling fishes and aggregate in large numbers around any floating objects in open sea. BillfishesBill fishes form by-catch in oceanic tuna and shark fishery. They are represented by Istiophores, Makyra and Xiphia Spp. Their average production was 6,372 t during last decade. They constitute only 0.3% of the marine fish production during this period.  SeerfishesThey are the most relished fishes with very high market demand. Five species namely Scomberomores commerson, S.guttatus, S.lineolatus, S.koreanus and Acanthocybium solandri supported the resource and fishery. They are abundant in the neretic and oceanic waters of both coasts. But undertake long term inshore migration and form fishery in shallow waters. S.guttatus is available in less saline turbid waters of coastal  belt. Average production was 50,450 t during the last decade and constitute nearly 1.6 % of the marine fish production. CarangidsCarangids are a diverse group of fishes having different body shapes. They are widely distributed along the entire coastal waters of India, Their major abundance confined to shallow waters up to 60 m depth.  More than 35 species constituted the resource, with many species showing discontinuous distribution. However, commercial fishery was supported by few species. Horse mackerel and scads dominated the fishery. Average production was 200,324 t during the last decade constitute nearly 6.5% of the marine fish production.  Pelagic fin fishery resources of India 30 Summer School on Advanced Methods for Fish Stock Assessment and Fisheries Management 31Summer School on Advanced Methods for Fish Stock Assessment and Fisheries ManagementRibbonfishesThey are  abundant along east and west coast with large abundance along the peninsular region.  Resource was supported by six species dominated by Trichiurus lepturus. Their maximum abundance was reported in deeper waters between 25-75 m depth. They being carnivores, used to follow shoals of small pelagics and Acetes and were fished in large quantities by shrimp trawls. Average production was 168,853 t during last decade and constitute nearly 5.5% of the marine fish production.  Bombay duckFishery was supported by three coastal water species dominated by Harpodon neherius. Resource distribution was discontinuous confined to northern sector of east and west coast. Major share of the resource and fishery is confined to north west coast ie. Gujarat and Maharashtra  coast and the rest from coast of Orissa, Andhrapradesh and Tamilnadu. They are fished mainly by fixed Dolnetat 15-50m depth zone. Sizeable quantities were also landed by trawls. Average production was 114,576 t during last decade and constitute nearly 3.7% of the marine fish production.  Flying FishesThey inhabit off shore waters of 30-40 km away from the shore. Several species belonging to Parexocoetus, Cypselurus and Exocoetus supported the fishery. Good fishery occur along the Coramandal and Gulf of Mannar coast of Tamilnadu and small quantities from Andhra coast. Average production was 1,825 t during last decade.  Belonids and HemirhamphidsGood resource of garfishes and half- beaks were available in the Gulf of Mannar and Palk Bay and support a potential local fishery. Average production was 4,140 t during last decade.Other pelagicOther resources which contribute considerably  to pelagic fishery are barracudas, king fishes (cobias),barramundi, mullets, milkfish, tarpons, lady fishes, glossy perclets, fusiliers etc. They form commercial fishery at varying levels at certain areas.

Pelagic fin fishery resources of India

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Pelagic fin fishery resources of India

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