SNAKE MARCKEREL FISHERY AND POPULATION CHARACTERISTICS OF SACKFISH, NEOEPINNULA ORIENTALIS LANDED ALONG THE TUTICORIN COAST OF GULF OF MANNAR

Abstract

Snake mackerel form by catch in deep sea trawls and gillnets. Their annual average production at Tuticorin was 106 t during 2004-2006. Fishery occurred almost round the year with peak during November-March. Biology of dominant species, Neoepinnula orientalis was monitored. Peak spawning and recruitment of the species was during December-March period. Growth parameters, L and K are estimated as 31.6 cm and 0.68/year respectively. The natural, total and fishing mortality was estimated as 1.38, 1.59 and 0.21 respectively. Natural mortality estimate (M) is 1.38, total mortality (Z), 1.59 and fishing mortality (F), 0.21. The exploitation ratio (E) rate is low, 0.132. These estimates show that stock is at its early stage of exploitation and have large scope of future commercial exploitation. As a preliminary step in this direction, extent of stock abundance, biomass and distribution of the stock needs to be assessed. Being a slow growing species and occupying in cold habitat, considerably long time is required for stock multiplication. These factors have to be taken into consideration while planning for their exploitation in future.

Key words: Snake mackerel, population characteristics, growth, mortality, exploitation rate.