Age and rate of growth of the Indian mackerel, Rastrelliger canagurta (Cuvier) with notes on its fishery at Karwar

Abstract

Information on the growth of a fish is an important pre-requisite in understanding the dynamics of fish populations. In fishery yield studies, such as those of Beverton and Holt (1957) the growth is a basic variable determining the exploitable stock and yield from the fishery. The present paper deals with the age and growth studies of the Indian mackerel incorporating the results of investigations carried out at Karwar from January 1954 to March 1959. At Karwar, the mackerel season generally commences in October and ends in the following March. After this period, only stray specimens are netted.