Fisheries and analysis of siverbelly in India- capture fisheries

1. SILVERBELLY FISH FISHERIES IN
INDIA

2. INTRODUCTION
• Silver bellies belongs to the family leiognathidae.
• In Malayalam-mullan, in Tamil-karal, in Telugu-karalu.
• Principally shallow water fishes distributed in the 0-
40m depth range.
• Small in size, maximum attaining length 15cm.
• The silverbellies are exploited by trawl and a variety of artisanal gears
likeshore seine, boat seine, gillnet, etc.
• However, about 80% of the landings are contributed by trawl.

3. DISTRIBUTION
• Unlike most teleiosts they have a peculiar distribution.
• The landings in Tamil Nadu,particularly southern areas account for
70% of the total national production.
• Followed by Kerala (9.4%)Andhra Pradesh (7.4%) Gujarat (4.4%) and
otherstates 8.8%.
• In southernTamil Nadu, these fishes aremost abundant in the
shallow areas of Palk Bay.
• These fishes show diurnal vertical migration staying at the bottom at
daytime and moving upto surface water during night time.

4. SPECIES COMPOSITON
• A total of 21 species are known from India seas.
• Almost all 21 sps are from southern Tamil Nadu
• Leiognathus dussumieri,L. jonesi,L. splendens, L. brevirostris,L.
equulus are most dominant species.
• In Northern Tamil Nadu & along the Andhra Pradesh
About 12 sps are known of which L. bindus, L. splendens and Secutor
insidiator are most dominant accounding nearly 70-80% of the
silverbellies landings.
In Kerala, 16 species are known to occur in the landings of which 4sps
( L. splendens, L. brevirostris, S. insidiator, G. minuta) contribute to
the bulk of the landings.

5. BIOLOGY
• They are fractional spawners spawning throughout the year with one
or two peaks of longer duration each year.
• The length at first maturity ranges from 62 to 100 m with values of
majority of the species falling in the range 80-95 mm.
• These fishes are mainly zooplankton feeders.
• In Andhra Pradesh spawning season is peak during Dece-January.
• Gulf of Mannar –April to May. Peak during May to June & October to
november.
• Off Kerala coast also spawning is continuous around the year.

6. FISHERIES MANAGEMENT
• The silverbellies are relatively short-lived species in comparison to
several other in Indian seas.
• In the case of different species of silverbellies the different in
different regions and major species contributing to the fishery are
variable between the regions.
• Further, the major component in trawl catch in terms of quantity
along the southeast coast being the silverbellies the dependence by
the local population on this resource is considerable.
• It is also known that southeast coast of India particularly the Palk Bay
and Gulf of Mannar, is the richest in terms of marine biodiversity.
• It is also the richest in terms of silverbelly species diversity; all the 21
species known from India are available only in this region.

7. • It is for this reason also it is essential that database on species
contributing to the fishery should be developed and maintained for
carrying out research and taking suitable and immediate corrective
measures to protect the species diversity and assemblages of
silverbelly in this region.
• The potential yield of silverbellies in the Indian EEZ is estimated as
67,000 t. This includes 28,000 t from Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
• Thus effectively, in the EEZ of mainland of India, the potential is to
the tune of 39,000 t.
• These fishes are of little demand in the fresh condition, but there is
considerable market for sundried fish and for fishmeal and poultry
feed.

8. CONCLUSION
• Silverbelly contribute one of the important inshore fisheries in India.
• Small sized fishes under the family Leiognathidae.
• They show pecular distribution along the Indian coasts.
• 80% landings are contributed by trawls.annual production yeild of
silverbellies is 5000t
• They spawn throghout the year.