Growth Parameters, Current Fishery Status and Population Characteristics with Biological Reference Points for Heterocarpus Woodmasoni Alcock, 1901 from Southwestern India

Chakraborty, Rekha D and Gayathri, A P and Dash, Gyanaranjan and Sreesanth, L and Sunil, K T S (2025) Growth Parameters, Current Fishery Status and Population Characteristics with Biological Reference Points for Heterocarpus Woodmasoni Alcock, 1901 from Southwestern India. Thalassas: An International Journal of Marine Sciences, 42 (22). pp. 1-14. ISSN ISSN 2366-1674

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Abstract

Heterocarpus woodmasoni holds significant economic value among other deep-sea caridean shrimp landed along the southwest coast of India. The selection of H. woodmasoni from Kerala for Marine Stewardship Council certification underscores the need for thorough assessment of fish stocks. However, in recent years its landing has exhibited a declining trend. Therefore, this study elucidates growth parameters, stock status and population dynamics of the aforementioned species captured by mechanised multiday trawlers during the period 2015–2022, comprising 7,175 specimens. Length-weight relationship revealed a positive allometric growth pattern for male (b = 3.51), female (b = 3.81) and pooled (b = 3.69) H. woodmasoni. Additionally, VBGF growth parameters (L∞ and K) were evaluated separately for male, female and pooled categories, indicating higher asymptotic length for females (15.15 cm) than males (13.89 cm) and a higher growth coefficient in males (0.75 year− 1) compared to females (0.72 year− 1). The growth performance index was remained consistent around 2.2 across these categories. Beverton and Holt analysis revealed that the current exploitation (0.6) and fishing mortality (2.02 year− 1) were lower than the biological reference points Emax (0.7) and Fmax (2.6 year− 1) respectively. Thomson and Bell analysis indicates that standing stock biomass (45.9%) and spawning stock biomass (21.5%) were lower than the reference point limits of 50% and 25% respectively. The current study signifies that H. woodmasoni has maintained stable population parameters during the study period. However, further increase in fishing pressure may affect the sustainability of the species.

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