Whitebaits

Jayaprakash, A A (2003) Whitebaits. In: Status of Exploited Marine Fishery Resources of India. CMFRI, Cochin, pp. 30-39. ISBN 81-9012119-3-6

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Abstract

The Whitebaits that comprise a group of small pelagic fishes belonging to the genera Stolephorus and Encrasicholina are widely distributed in the Indo-Pacific region (Figs. 1&2). Altogether ten species have been found to occur in our seas. In India, this resource contributes on an average to 64,000 t (1991-2000) forming 1.7- 5.8% of the total marine fish landings in the country and unlike other anchovies (genera: Thryssa, Setipinna, Coilia and Thrissina), is mostly exploited from the southern maritime states. The landings of whitebaits from the southern states like Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka accounted for 75-97% of the total production of whitebait. The studies conducted on this resource by the UNDP/ FAO Pelagic Fishery Project along the southwest coast of India from Ratnagiri to Tuticorin; and the investigations carried out by the Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute at various centres along the east and west coasts have indicated its fishery potential and provided valuable information on various biological aspects of the constituent species.

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