The threadfin bream resources

ij^he threadfin-breams of the family Nemipteridae form one \nof tlie xa^jor demersal fishery resources of India and are exploited by \nsmall commncial trawlers along both coasts in depths extending \nupto 70 m. The present catches form about 2% of total landings \nfrom the seas around India. Kerala State accounts for the maximum \ncatch (3S%), followed by Maharashtra (21%). Gujarat (S%) and \nother maritime States. The exploratory survej^ beyond.the pre« \nsent fishing grounds have revealed that threadiia«breams are more \nabundant in the depth range 7S-12S m, the catch of these fishes \ncontributing to about 7S% of the total catch from this depth range. \nThe presNit exploitation, thus, is marginal, since the areas where \nthere are larger concentrations of these fishes are now unfished.