Rare landings of large-sized Bronze croaker in West Bengal that warrants sustainable management

Roul, Subal Kumar and Jeeva, Charles J and Raju, S S (2025) Rare landings of large-sized Bronze croaker in West Bengal that warrants sustainable management. Marine Fisheries Information Service; Technical and Extension Series (264) (264). pp. 13-17. ISSN 0254-380X

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Abstract

The Bronze croaker Otolithoides biauritus (Cantor, 1849) is found in shallow coastal waters and estuaries, with adults capable of entering rivers, while sub-adults primarily inhabit marine environments. The maximum recorded length of Otolithoides biauritus is 160 cm, though it is commonly observed up to 100 cm being targeted across its range using various fishing methods, including trawls, bag nets, purse seines, and longlines, and is also caught as bycatch. The species is assessed as Data Deficient globally on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (Chao et al., 2020). Fish swim bladders, called as fish maw after being processed, are highly prized seafood delicacies in East Asian markets and ranked one among the "big four" traditional delicacies which includes sea cucumber, shark fin, and abalone. Limited information on the marketing channels and value chain analysis of commercially important finfish and shellfish species which hinders our understanding of how market structures influence the exploitation and sustainability of marine resources was addressed in the present study focused on Otolithoides biauritus, a high-value yet poorly studied sciaenid species. The emphasis on catch trends, size composition, value chain mapping, and constraints in exploitation and trade aims to provide baseline information to support sustainable fisheries management, conservation strategies, and policy interventions.

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