PRESENT STATUS OF EXPLOITATION OF FISH AND SHELLFISH RESOURCES SQUID AND CUTTLEFISH

A great bulk of the cephalofKxls exploited in India, mostly as by-catch, is landed on the west coast with the three maritime States of Kerala, Maharashtra and Gujarat accounting for the lion's share. Over 70% of this is obtained in trawl, while the rest is taken in artisanal fisheries, besides some exclusive fisheries of localised nature. During February 1984 to August 1988, on the west coast as a whole, the post-monsoon season (September-February) is the best period for cephalopod landings accounting for an average of 63% of the annual production, while premonsoon season (Feb­ ruary-May) is the next productive and the monsoon season (June-August) is the least. Fishery in the monsoon season is active only at Vizhinjam with the opearation of large number of artisinal gear; however the cephalopod catch is much less than in other seasons. Loligo duvauceli is the single species that constitutes the squid fishery on the west coast, while Sepia pharoonsis and Sepia aculeala mainly form the cuttlefish fishery. There is no significant variation in size range or maturity conditions of the component species of squid and cuttlefish in relation to the seasons. The possible effect of fishing during monsoon on cephalopod resources is discussed.