Stock assessment of Bombay duck Harpodon nehereus (Ham.) off Maharashtra coast

Abstract

The do1 nets contribute the major share to the landing of Bombay duck Hurpodon nehereus. Features of the do1 net fishery, fishing areaand seasonal distribution of the fishery are presented. Biological studies are chiefly confined to food and feeding habits, analysis of maturity stages, sex ratio and length-weight relationship. The lengthat50%maturity was observed as 230 mm. Different spawning cycles were noticed and fecundity evinced alinearincreasewith fish weight. The growth parameters and mortality estimates were made. Assuming terminal exploitation rate as 0.78, the average catch was observed to be 52 213 tonnes. MSY estimated by Thompson and Bell model was 5463 1 tomes and biomass MSY as 76893 tonnes and hence it wasassumed that theBombay duck along the Maharnshtra coast was optimally exploited.