Stock assessment of marine catfishes of India

The marine catfish fishery of India during 1979-88 laid special emphasis on the stock and exfdoitation \nof two major species Tachysurus thalassinus and T. tenuispinis. These together constituted about 50% of \nthe total catUsh landings of the country. Catfish production registered increase in the 1970-89 period, but \nthe high fishing pressure in the mechanized trawl and purse seine sector resulted in non-judicious harvest \nof spawnets or brooders, eggs or embryos and juvenile or sub-adults of catfishes. Because of this, the yield \nof both the species suffered setback in the late eighties at most of the fishing centres. The exploilaticn level \nof T. thalassinus was 0.88 at Veraval, 0.85 at Cochin and 0.84 at Visakhapamam with corresponding Emax \nof 0.72,0.72 and 0.50. In Gujarat, Kerala and Andhra Pradesh the exidoitation of this species exceeded the \nannual average standing stocks. The exploitation rate <^ T. tenuispinis was 0.61,0.79 and 0.65 at Veraval, \nMangalore and Cochin respectively. The corresponding Emu was 0.74,0.51 and 0.66. The exploitation was \nhigher than the aimual average standing stocks in Gujarat, Kamataka and Kerala. The possible management \nstrategies and remedial measures are discussed.