An attempt has been made to evaluate the economics and marketing of dry fish production in Thoothukudi District of Tamil Nadu, India. The information on various aspects of the dry fish enterprise was collected through random sampling of 29 dry fish producers in a pre-structured interview schedule. The results indicates that 50 % of the total dry fish produced (in terms of quantity) was contributed by sardines and anchovies however, the seer fishes fetched a premium market price of ₹550 kg -1 followed by carangids (₹125 kg-1), and belonids (₹115 kg-1). The dry fish production found to be a profitable business with an Internal Rate of Returns (IRR) value of 75 % and Simple Rate of Returns (SRR) value of 43.48% respectively with a net profit margin of ₹ 2258.83 week-1 was possible. The study also suggests that the dry fishes reached the consumers by way of three marketing channel viz., the channel 1 (producer to consumer) was found the most efficient marketing channel over the channel 2 (producer, middleman and consumer) and channel 3 (producer, wholesaler, middleman and consumer). The cost of raw materials, transportation, packaging, and market margin were the key factors that influences and decides the income of the dry fish producers and all the factors exhibits a statistical significance at 0.05 level.
The diversity of finfishes caught in traps at Keelakarai, Gulf of Mannar was assessed quantitatively and qualitatively for a period of six years from July 2006 to June 2012. Average landing during the period was 109 t per year with maximum of 137 t during 2008-09. Among the 98 species of reef fishes landed, Siganus canaliculatus dominated (28%), followed by Scarus ghobban (21%). During the first two years of the study, S. ghobban dominated over S. canaliculatus and later the trend reversed. Family-wise, maximum contribution was by Siganidae (36%) followed by Scaridae (21%). Seasonally, the major peak was recorded during post-monsoon of 2009. The Shannon index of diversity was maximum during 2007-08. Cluster analysis indicated the highest similarity in species composition between 2010-11 and 2011-12. SIMPER analysis identified 26 species as most significant in creating the observed pattern of similarity for 90% cut off contributions. Ellipse plot showed statistically significant deviation in fish diversity between years. Reef fish landings showed an increasing trend from 2006-07 to 2008-09, a decline afterwards and then almost steady condition prevailed during the last two years of the study which implies that there is no scope for further increase in landings by trap fishery at Keelakarai.
This is the first record of Grammonus robustus from Indian waters. Five specimens measuring 132 -233 mm standard length were collected from the by-catch landed by a deep sea trawler from waters 150 to 200 m deep off the Tuticorin coast in the Gulf of Mannar. The detailed morphometric and meristic characters are compared to known G. robustus material.
The lack of data on population abundance, biomass and basic biological parameters of most of the sea cucumber species from Indian waters is a fundamental barrier to impose suitable management measures on these resources. A study was conducted to ascertain the sea cucumber population characteristics in two geographically distinct ecosystems (Gulf of Mannar and Palk Bay) along the south-east coast of India. The stock status of sea cucumber population was assessed both by trawl and dive surveys following standard methods on a random basis. Comparatively, a higher average density of total sea cucumbers was estimated in the Gulf of Mannar (3853±152.3 nos. ha-1) than in Palk Bay (2428.5±504.6 nos. ha-1). The species diversity, average length and weight of individual species were also higher in the Gulf of Mannar. The present study indicated significant variation in status and structure of sea cucumber resources in these two ecosystems. Hence the study warrants the emphasis of ecosystem-based management in formulating conservation measures of these resources in Indian waters.
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