Destruction of eggs of catfish Tachysurus tenuispinis by purse seiners at Karwar

The unwarranted destruction of huge quantities of eggs of catfish, Tachysurus tenuispinis at coastal areas of Karnataka were reported in 1980. It was expected that due care would be exercised in the fishery by purse seiners, especially during spawning season for T.tenuispinis but the same catastrophe repeated in 1982 in Karwar and is discussed here. Almost all the catch consisted of males, most of them carrying eggs in their mouth. The estimated catch of eggs,which is of no demand, amounted to 4.5% of the total catch of T.tenuispinis. .In order to save this resource from complete depletion steps should be taken by educating the fishermen about the adverse effects.