Bombay duck

Abstract

The Bombay-duck holds a pride of place in the long established artisanal sector of the northwest and northeast coasts of India. A good or poor harvest of Bombay- duck exercise direct influence upon the livelihood of men and women engaged in this labour intensive sector in the maritime states of Maharashtra and Gujarat. It is an important fish for domestic use and also a valuable export item in dried or laminated form. Fresh extracts from Bombay-duck is believed to have considerable medicinal properties. The fishery is supported by a single species, Harpadon nehereus, popularly known as Bombay-duck in English. In Gujarati, this species is called Bumla, Bumili, Bombil or Bummaloh, in Marathi, Bombil; Cucah Sawahri, Coco mottah in Telugu and Nehere, Lutee or Bombla in Bengali (Fig.1).