The resources of hilsa shad, Hilsa ilisha (Hamilton), along the northeast coast of India

The results of 4study on the fishery, biology, exploitation and mortality of hilsa shad (Hi1.w ilishu) are presented. The average annual landing of Hilsa ilisha for 1979 -88 was 57 10 tomes forming 0.4% of the total landings. The major craft and gears and [he contributions of different states arepresented. Age at first maturity was estimated as 1.98 yem. The details of spawning migrations, maturity stages and fecundity mdiscussed. Thetotal mortality, natural mortality and fishingmortality coefficients wereob,tainedas 1.71,0.704 and 0.9444 respectively. The present yield of4 168tonnes wasthe sameas theestimated MSY indicating theoptimum level of exploitation.