Bulletin No. 5* (1976)
Results Of Demersal Fisheries Resources Survey Along The East Coast Of India, 1959-74
K.M.JOSEPH, N. RADHAKRISHNAN, ANTONY JOSEPH AND K.P. PHILIP
The results of fishery resources survey conducted by the Exploratory Fisheries Project during the period 1959-74 in the east coast of India between lat. 8N and 22N and long. 78E and 90E are presented in the Bulletin. Twenty four vessels of varying horse power were employed for the survey. The relative abundance of demersal fisheries resources along the lower and upper east coasts has revealed that the catch rate of prawns appeared to be negligible in almost all areas surveyed off Madras and that of perches ranged from 2 to 49 kg/hr with relatively high abundance in the southern part of the lower east coast. The monthly variation in the catch rates of important fishes is presented indicating the peak occurrence of different species along the lower and upper east coast. The present study, in contrast to earlier belief, has shown that the upper east coast is more productive than the lower east coast and total potential yield from the shelf area is likely to be much more than what has been estimated by earlier workers.
Bulletin No. 2* (1975)
Annual Report 1974-75
K.M.JOSEPH
An unexplored area of about 22,000 sq.km. within 30fm and about 2000 sq.km. between 30-100m depth were surveyed by operating 22 vessels. One of the significant features of the survey programme for 1974-75 was the demarcation made between exploratory and experimental fishing. Under experimental fishing eight 17.5m indigenously constructed vessels were conducting demersal trawling from Kandla,Bombay, Goa, Mangalore, Tuticorin and Madras; tuna long-lining and trolling were conducted from Port Blair and Kalava hand line fishing was introduced from Goa and Port Blair. Special shrimp survey programme was carried out from Visakhapatnam and Cochin. Results of these survey programmes are discussed. During the period of study the highest catch rate was observed from north-east zone. In depth-wise study it was noted that species abundance was high in the depth beyond 100 m. Cat fish, dhoma, ghol, eel. and karkara formed high percentage in the catch.
Bulletin No. 1* (1974)
Demersal Fisheries Resources Off North-west Coast Of India
K.M.JOSEPH
Results of exploratory bottom trawling conducted by the Deep Sea Fishing Station, Bombay, along the Gujarat and Maharashtra coast, since its inception up to 1973 have been discussed in this bulletin. A large number of trawlers of different design, type and size were employed for the exploratory trawling, in the area between lat. 15N and 23 and long. 67E and 74E. Catch composition shows that the areas studied have several commercially important species. One of the important objectives of exploratory fishing was to assess the relative abundance of resources. Abundance indices were worked out for whole area by depth. Seasonal variation of the catch by nine classes of vessels in six regions in a year has been given in graphical form. An attempt has been made to determine the standing stock of demersal fish available in the continental shelf area under study. It is estimated that the fishery potential of demersal resources off Maharashtra coast from 25-50 m depth zone is about 1,20,000 t. whereas it is less in Gujarat. In Maharashtra coast, elasmobranches and dhoma alone accounted for about 50% of the catch. The study, without doubt, showed that demersal fisheries resources of the area could sustain the operation of a fairly large number of medium and large sized trawlers.
