Skate fishery and some biological aspects of five species of skates off Mumbai

Abstract

Skate landings as bycatch of trawlers at Mumbai declined from 1204.4 t in 1989 to 194.6 t in 2003, with an average annual landing of 334.8 t, at a catch rate of 248 kg/hr. The fishing pressure has reached optimum level, which is evidenced by a decline in catch and catch rate of skate population. Rhynchobatus djiddensis (93.2%) was the most dominant species, which landed throughout the year. Infomations on the biology of five species Rhynchobatus djiddensis, Rhina ancylostoma, Rhinobatus granulatus, Rhinobatus obtusus and Rhinobatus annandalei are presented.