Mackerel fishery of the Calicut area and its fluctuations during the seasons from 1980-81 to 1985-86

After relatively good mackerel fishery at Calicut in 1980-81 it touched the lowest figure in 1983-84. \nImprovement was noticed subsequently. Recruitment to the fishery is almost completed by September. \nMainstay of recruitment at Calicut is from the products of spawning in June and August. A good \nannual rainfall is found to be beneficial to the fishery, but the rainfall and catch in September is found \nto have an inverse relation. Catch in 1970-71 is found to be well above equilibrium level. The magnitude \nof spawning stock in April-June period is found to have direct relation to the total catch of that \nseason. In general, mackerel fishery is on the decline at Calicut. There are indications that the \ncurrent fishing pressure on the population is more than optimum.