Spawning congregations of Indian squid Loligo duvauceli (Cephalopoda Loliginidae) in the Arabian Sea off Mangalore and Malpe

Abstract

Two successive spawning congregations of Loligo duvauceli occurred along the southern Karnataka coast during 1990 and 1991. The congregations took place during the post monsoon months (Sept.-Oct) and resulted in steep increase in catch rales of squids in trawlers and purse seiners operating from Mangalore and Malpe. Occurrence of such notable quantities of large sized mature squids during Septembcr-October of 1990 and 1991 is attributed to the increase in seawater tcmperatures along the inshore areas during the period. Further new evidences like low gonadosomatic index and tangible growth arter reaching sexual maturity are presented to highlight a non-scmelparous reproduction in this tropical inshore squid