Population Characteristics of the Tuna Baitfish spratelloides delicatulus (Clupeidae) from Lakshadweep, India

Nasser, A K V (2000) Population Characteristics of the Tuna Baitfish spratelloides delicatulus (Clupeidae) from Lakshadweep, India. In: The Fifth Indian Fisheries Forum Proceedings, 17-20 January, 2000, Bhubaneswar, Orissa.

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Abstract

The blue sprat, Spratelloides delicatulus is the dominant species of bait used in the pole-and-line tuna fishery of Lakshadweep. Length-frequency data were collected on a monthly basis during 1988-89 and 1989-90 fishing seasons from Minicoy and Agatti. Analyses were performed using the compleat ELEFAN suite of programmes. The results indicate that L, is between 65 and 66 mm and K values range from 4.9 to 5.0 per year. Total mortality estimates with L, as 66 and K = 5 varied widely in the three methods employed and between sites. Natural mortality at the sites was similar while fishing mortality and exploitation rate was maximum at Bangaram. Recruitment patterns showed high percentage during August and December at Bangaram while at Perumal Par it showed a delayed pulsing with maximum mode in January. The exploitation rate (E) values obtained for the bait fishery suggests fishing to be near optimum with marginal increase especially at Bangaram. Therefore, the bait fishery at Agatti require close monitoring and further expansion in effort must be viewed with extreme caution.

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