Hooks and line fishery in North Kerala with particular reference to catfish resources

Abstract

The paper deals with the hooks and line fishery along North Kerala during 1979-1985. Marine cat-fishes were traditionally harvested from this area by non-mechanised gears, such as hooks and line, drift net and boat-seines till early sixties. The operations by hooks and line yielded a steady catch. The catfishes alone contributed about 90% in the hooks and line landings. The dominant species in the landings were Tachysurus tenuispinis, T. dussumieri and T. thalassinus from the depth ranges of 40-70 m and T. serratus from 10-30 m. T. tenuispinis is vulnerable to the gear at the age of 3 years and above and T. dussumieri, T. thalassinus and T. serratus at the ages 4, 2 and 6 years and above respectively. Introduction of trawlers and purse seiners initially contributed to a sudden hike in its production. But exploitation of juveniles and eggs/embryos carrying male brooders on large-scale, ultimately resulted in low recruitment. As brooders are not susceptible to fishery by hooks and line, it is suggested to intensify the catfish fishing by this gear.