GOVERNMENT OF INDIA FISHERY SURVEY OF INDIA Department of Fisheries
Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying

Paper No: 9

Author: V.S.SOMVANSHI, S. VARGHESE, R.K. GUPTA AND V.V. NAIK

The sunfishes distributed in tropical and temperate parts of the World Ocean are rare in their occurrence along the Indian coast. The species reported from Indian waters are Ranzania truncata, R. typus, Masturus Ianceolatus, M. oxyuropterus and Mola mola. The Fishery Survey of India vessel Yellow Fin during her longline operations along the north west coast of India during May, October and November 1992 hooked 8 specimens of the species Mola mola and one specimen of M. lanceolatus, from the areas along lat. 19-22N, having bottom depth range of 1152 to 1937 m. A review of the literature shows that very limited information is available on the biological aspects of the sunfishes especially on their mode of reproduction and place of breeding. All the five specimens examined during the present investigation were males having immature and mature gonads. The information on their food habit shows that they feed on a variety of food items ranging from jelly fish to sea weeds indicating the nonselective nature of feeding.The sunfishes have no commercial importance as their flesh is not considered as a favoured food, being tough, unpalatable and insipid.In Japan, the liver extract from the ocean sunfish M. mola has been employed as a crude remedy for the treatment of human gastric ulcers.Since the sunfishes are rarely encounted near the continental shelf, the specimens reportedly caught in the past could be mere incidental catches or landed having drifted to shore. Several myths and legends are associated with sighting of the sunfish. A recent research study shows that green sunfish has the ability to see through murkey condition at sea. The present study provides a comprehensive account of the information in respect of sun fishes including their general distribution, phylogeny, key to the genera and species, certain biological aspects,morphometric measurements, meristic counts, food and gonad condition.

Paper No: 8

Author: K.N.V.NAIR, V.SIVAJI AND V.S. SOMVANSHI

During the survey cruise of the tuna longline vessel Blue Marlin undertaken for surveying oceanic resources in the north-west coast of India, a specimen of Tractichthys longipinnis was hooked from the area lat. 2235' N and long. 6714' E off Porbandar at 2375 m depth on 22-1-1990. Another species, Taractes rubescens, was recorded off Little Andaman at 2245 m depth on 19-12-1991. Description, synonyms and distribution pattern of these species, along with the economic importance have been discussed in this paper.

Paper No: 7

Author: A.K.BHARGAVA, M.E. JOHN AND V. RANE

Operation of some of the chartered stern trawlers along the south-west coast, targeting on deepsea shrimps, has yielded valuable information on abundance and distribution of the stock. The results of fishing by two Italian vessels and one Spanish vessel during the period 1990-1994 are discussed. Large number of species of deepsea shrimps, belonging to Fam. Penaeidae and Fam. Pandalidae, occur off the south-west coast.The commercially important species are listed in the paper. It was observed that the chartered vessels operated mainly in two distinct fishing grounds in lat.9N and 10N, situated off Alleppy and Ponnani in 340-430m depth range. The fishing pattern and stock distribution are described. The mean catch per unit obtained was 852.7 kg per fishing day or 50.1 kg per fishing hour. Monthwise CPUE does not indicate seasonality of any significant magnitude and suggests feasibility of round the year fishing. Successful operation by vessels from distant nations is a pointer to economic viability of exploitation. However, in view of slow growth and high mortality rate of deepsea shrimps cautious approah is needed for long term exploitation.

Paper No: 6

Author: D.M.ALI, P.P. PANDIAN, V.S. SOMVANSHI, M.E. JOHN AND K.S.N.REDDY

The spear lobster Linuparus somniosus is known to occur off the East African coast. The first record of occurrence of the species in Indian waters is reported in this paper. The FSI survey vessel, Matsya Shikari during her maiden voyage to Andaman sea located the resource on 9-10-1990. The species was again caught in the second cruise during March-April 1991. The distribution range as observed during the two cruises is between lat. 1140'N to 1310'N and long. 9253'E to 9308'E in the eastern Andaman Sea in the depth range 279-360m. The haul- wise CPUE obtained was in the range of 0.54 to 4.83 kg/hr. Biological studies showed that the total body length was in the range of 16-42 cm. Average weight was 351 gm and the maximum weight 1010 gm. The male to female ratio was found to be 60.7:39.3. Length-weight relation ship was estimated as W = 0.0449 L 2.6877. Length frequency studies indicated multi modal distribution pattern with four components. Prospects of commercial exploitation of the stock in the Andaman & Nicobar waters are also discussed in the paper.

Paper No: 5

Author: T.V.NINAN AND D. SUDARSAN

Attraction and concentrating pelagic fishes by artificial light is practised in different parts of the world. Various factors such as positive phototaxis, preference for optimum light intensity, investigatory reflex, defensive reflex etc. are attributed to fish aggregation. This behaviour of fish was exploited in the light attracted purse-seining conducted on board the trawler-cum-purse-seining vessel, Matsya Darshini of FSI and the results are presented in this paper. It was observed that the fish was attracted in the areas where turbidity was more and currents were strong. There were indications that the bigger fishes such as seer fish, skipjack tuna etc. were not directly attracted by light but converged to feed on aggregated small fishes like sardines and anchovies, attracted by light.

Paper No: 3

Author: T.E.SIVAPRAKASAM AND S.M. PATIL

This paper presents information on distribution and abundance of tunas and tuna-like fishes off south-west coast of India, obtained in tuna longline survey by the vessel Matsya Sugundhi during the period from May 1985 to March 1986. The survey covered the EEZ area along west coast from lat. 5N to 14N. The total hooking rate varied from 0.4% to 23.9%.Tunas were the most important component (75%) followed by sharks and billfishes. Three species of tunas were obtained in which yellowfin tuna dominated the catch to the extent of 99%. The hooking rate for tunas varied from 0.16% to 20.81% with an average of 6.09% for the whole year. Highest catch rates were obtained off Karnataka coast within the EEZ. The study revealed a northerly migration of the tunas from lower latitudes to higher latitudes which starts from October and extends upto March. Prospects of development of tuna fishery in India are also discussed in the paper.

Paper No: 1

Author: T.E.SIVAPRAKASAM AND G. NAGARAJAN

During the survey cruise in February 1985 the purse-seining vessel Matsya Varshini of FSI located a large shoal of Rainbow Run ner, Elagatis bipinnulata. A successful haul made in the area 7-77 yielded a total catch of 10.7 tonnes out of which E. bipinnulata account ed for 7 tonnes. The occurrence of this species is of interest as this was not recorded earlier to form such large shoals. The species is known to occur in warm coastal waters upto 50-60 m depth and grows to about 4 feet length. The main fishing methods for this species are by hook and line, gill nets and seine nets.

Paper No: 2

Author: T.E.SIVAPRAKASAM

The Indian mackerel, Rastrelliger kanagurta (Cuvier), forms the most important fishery in India next to oil sardine. In the present paper,some interesting observations on mackerel resource along the Orissa-West Bengal coast obtained in bottom trawl survey by the vessel Matsya Darshini during the year 1985 are analysed and presented. The catch obtained by the vessel during the period was 145 tonnes, of which mackerel formed 56 percent. The distribution pattern and seasonal varia tion in abundance of the species ar discussed. Depth-wise, 101-150 m depth zone yielded the highest CPUE of 210.2 kg/hr followed by 51-100 m zone with a catch rate of 94.1 kg/hr. The results reveal that the mackerel resource abounds in offshore/deeper waters than the coastal belt. The occurrence of mackerel in trawl catches along the Orissa- West Bengal coast in substantial quantities portends the existence of a potential trawl fishery for mackerel in the region.

Paper No: 4

Author: T.E.SIVAPRAKASAM

A synoptic view of demersal fishery resources in the Indian EEZ upto 500 m depth, as revealed in exploratory surveys by larger vessels of FSI during 1979-86 are discussed in the paper. The information is presented in terms of relative abundance of resources obtained in various depth ranges and latitudes, and the percentage composition of dominant species in each depth range on a state-wise basis. The type of resources available, area of availability and depth zone of abundance are identified. The major resources in the deepseas beyond 70 m depth are threadfin breams, bulls eye, black ruff, drift fish, scad, green eye, horse mackerel, mackerel, ribbon fish, barracuda, lizard fish, squid and cuttle fish, deepsea lobster, deep sea shrimps, deep sea shark and crabs. It is suggested that economic viability of utilisation of the deepsea resources is to be examined. However, with the increasing demand and near maximum utilisation of coastal resources we will have to turn to deepsea resources in future.