By Catch Exploitation of Ornamental Fishes in Tuticorin Coast of Gulf of Mannar, India

Coral reef fishes comprise the most specious assemblages of vertebrates on the earth. The variety of shapes, sizes, colors, behavior and ecology exhibited by reef fishes is amazing. The total landings of Ornamental fishery were 3890.48 t in the year of January 2009 to December 2011for the Tuticorin fishing harbor in the Gulf of Mannar, southeast coast of India. Among the three years 1829.395 t were landed dominant and levels were noted during the period of 2009 and it followed by 1790.582 t landed in the period of 2010 and thirdly 270.5033 t landed in the period of 2011. Hence, a visible gradual decrease in the fish catches was recorded during the 3 years study. The plenty of marine ornamental fishes were exploited by destructive fishing methods like, trawl net fishing. Hence the assessment of fish species and to implement the sea ranging techniques is necessary to conserve the diversity of fishes of Gulf of Mannar in southeast coast of India.