OIL SARDINE FISHERY AT KOZHIKODE DURING THE SEASONS 1959-60 to 1962-63

Abstract

The oil sardine fishery at Kozhikode showed an upward trend from
1959-60 to 1961-62 followed by a decline in 1962-63. Non-selective gears,
namely, Pattenkolli vala, Mathikolli vala, Thattum vala and Nethel vala (all
boat-seines) were the main gears which accounted for the major part of the
oil sardine landings. Variations in the quarterly and annual catch-per-net and
catch-per-unit of effort of the different gears have been discussed. The fishery
was confined mostly to the October-December quarter when generally size
groups ranging from 105 to 149 mm contributed to the bulk of the landings.
From the occurrence and progression of the different modes it was inferred
that the fishery is dependent on more than one-year-class every year and that
during certain years several broods of the same year-class enter the fishery-
Growth among juveniles was observed to be at a higher rate than among the
bigger and older size groups. A special feature of the 1961-62 and 1962-63
seasons was the entry on a large scale of smaller size groups ranging from 65 to
85 mm into the fishery during August and September. Although oil sardine
shoals occur within the 45 metre region, heavy concentrations were recorded
in the 5 to 25 metre area.