Zooplankton standing stock and community structure along Karnataka Coast, west coast of India

Distribution of zooplankton along two transects at Karwar and Ratnagiri, west coast of India, was studied. The standing stock of zooplankton was relatively high in the neritic zone with the highest value [358 ml/100 m super(3)] in the area off Ratnagiri due to the aggregation of fish larvae and hydromedusae. Maximum zooplankton production in these areas was noticed with the low temperature and low dissolved oxygen during postmonsoon season. At Karwar the highest biomass [188 ml/100 m super(3)] was observed from the nearshore station due to swarms of the cladoceran Penilia avirostris and the pteropod Cresis acicula when the salinity was low. The fluctuations in numerical abundance and percentage composition of all the major planktonic groups are discussed. The fishery of these areas is compared with the zooplankton standing stock.

Biodeterioration of wooden boats: a major problem facing marine fisheries

In India, the fishing industry alone incurs an annual loss of over 120 million rupees on account of biodeterioration of wooden fishing craft. None of the timber species, currently in demand for boat-building, possesses an natural bioresistance and will be completely destroyed within 6 to 12 months. Preventive measures against biodeterioration range from application of several indigenous formulations to metallic sheathings and pressure impregnation of wood with preservative chemicals. These methods do not provide lasting protection, as each has its own short-comings and inadequacies. The need for long-term research in the field of marine biodeterioration for improving the efficiency of currently known control measures, with emphasis on application of non-polluting biological methods, is stressed.

Population dynamics and stock assessment of Koth (Otolithoides biauritus Cantor, 1850) along the north-west coast of India

MSY, growth, selection and mortality parameters of Otolithoides biauritus have been worked out from data collected by MFV Saraswati of CIFE, and length frequency data from Ferry Wharf, Sasson dock, and Versova fish landing centres of Bombay. Values of L infinity, K, and t omicron obtained from length frequency study are 1572 mm, 0.2633/yr and 0.0289 yr respectively, and of weight growth parameters are W infinity = 10067 g, K = 0.03904/yr and t omicron = 0.0137 yr. Selection parameters are L + 150 mm, t sub(r) + 0.4167 yr lc + 240 mm and t omicron = 0.6367 yr. Selection factor (K) for codent worked out to be 12. Based on Z = 0.6486, the MSY of O. biauritus off northwest coast of India is assessed as 1,802 tons which is slightly higher than the current catch level of 1,634 tons.

Early and better maturity in carp brood stock with control of environment and feeding

Available of carp breeders in their prim state of maturity is a major constraint in hypophysation. Experiments conducted in a fish farm at Naihati, West Bengal, for two consecutive years, 1983-84 and 1984-85, clearly prove that by manipulation of environmental parameters such as metabolites, dissolved oxygen, running water conditions, as also of stock densities and quality and quantity of feed. Catla catla, Hypophythalmichthys molitrix, Labeo rohita, Cirrhina mrigala and Ctenopharyngodon idella can be made to attain better maturity and spawning stage much earlier than normal i.e. even in summer months and the entire stock spawned during the period from March to September. Percentage of successful breeding, quantities of eggs released and fertilised in relation to the body weight of all the species, were also found to be more in comparison to the brood stock raised through the conventional methods.

Some observations on the problem of marine timber destroying organisms of Indian coasts

In India the chief marine timber boring organisms are 2 species of Martesia, 28 species of shipworms, 4 species and a variety of Sphaeroma and 9 species of Limnoria besides bacteria and fungi. The occurrence, abundance and activity of the various species of borers show remarkable variations and fluctuations in the different harbours of India, each harbour or area having its own dominant set of species and an assemblage of less important forms. These species have their own characteristic preferences, life history and seasons of attachment and a scheme evolved for one locality may prove ineffective for another. Through a delicate and complex ecological adjustment the borers occurring in a locality have reached an interrelationship reducing interspecific and intraspecific competition. The seasons of settlement of the dominant borers in the different harbours of India are indicated. The need for a detailed biological enquiry is stressed.

Stock assessment of soldier catfish Osteogeneiosus militaris along the northwest coast of India

Value of length growth parameters L∞, K and t(sub)0 from age-length relation obtained from length-frequency analysis for the soldier catfish stock were estimated to be 47.6 cm, 0.51 per year and 0.03 year respectively. The age at recruitment (t [sub]r) was 0.58 year and the age at first capture (t[sub]c) 0.83 year. The total mortality (Z) was 0.88 including the present natural mortality (M) of 0.84 and fishing mortality (F) of 0.04. The total stock of this fish along the Northwest coast of India was assessed to be 32,413 tons and the MSY 5,426 tons which is much higher than the current catch of 863.8 tons. The potential yield (P[sub]y) of 38.7 g per recruit could be obtained at the optimum of exploitation (t[sub]y) of 2.84 years.

Assessment of Saurida tumbil (Bloch) stock in the northwest continental shelf water of India

Based on the data collected from New Ferry Wharf, Sassoon Dock and exploratory survey of MFV Saraswati on the Northwest coast of India, the growth, mortality, population and stock parameters of Saurida tumbil is reported in the present communication. The Von Bertalanffy growth function (GF) parameters for growth on length were found to be L∞=49.8 cm, K=0.96/year, t0 = -.141 year. The length at recruitment (lr) is 80 mm. (tr=.167 year) while the length at first capture (lc) for the commercial trawl fishery is 100 mm (tc=0.25 year). The annual fishing mortality coefficient (F) for 1983-85 was 0.43, the natural mortality coefficient (M) was 1.33 and the exploitation ratio (E) was 0.25. The yield per recruit (Y/R) attained the maximum of 54.99 g at F=1.091 for E=0.45 for the present tc at 0.25 year. The annual total stock (P) and standing stock (P) in the exploitation portion at the inshore grounds to a depth of about 50 m were estimated to be 12,811 tons and 6,034 tons respectively. The average annual yield of 2,635 tons at the present F=0.439 (E=0.247) was less than the maximum sustainable yield (MSY) for 3,331 tons attainable from the inshore grounds at E=0.45.

Stock dynamics of horse mackerel, megalaspis cordyla (Linnaeus) along northwest coast of India

The stock dynamics of horse mackerel, Megalaspis cordyla, along the northwest coast of India has been studied using length frequency data recorded from commercial landings and trawl catches of research-cum-training vessel M.F.V. Saraswati. The growth parameters for this species has been estimated to be L∞=54 cm and K=0.49 per annum. The natural and fishing mortality for the stock have been worked out to be 0.93 and 0.91 per annum respectively. The study indicated that the stock is fished at a safer fishing mortality level F sub(0.1), lower than F sub(msy) level.

Population dynamics and stock assessment of the spider prawn, Nematopalaemon tenuipes Henderson along the Maharashtra coast

Nematopalaemon tenuipes is an important component of non-penaeid prawn resources of the northwest coast of India. During 1979-82 period, it contributed 29.9% to the non-penaeid prawn and 5.6% to the total fish landings of Maharashtra. The von Bertalanffy growth parameter L∞, K and t(sub)0 were 77.38 mm, 1.31 and -0.02 year for the males while for the females these parameters were respectively 87.23 mm, 1.30 and -0.01 year. The natural mortality coefficient (M) was 3.54 and 3.52 and the average total mortality coefficient (Z) during the period was 9.09 and 7.79 for the males and females respectively. With the exploitation rates of 0.61 and 0.55 for the males and females during the period, the total stock of the species was 26,270 tonnes and the standing stock was 3,418 tonnes. The maximum sustainable yield (MSY) of the species under the prevailing fishing conditions was 15,744 tonnes which is close to the average yield of 14,726 tonnes from the nets. Hence further increase in effort is not suggested.

Stock assessment and biology of Johnius glaucus (Day) off the northwest coast of India

The stock size and biology of Johnius glaucus (Day) resource off the northwest coast of India were studied for 1982-83 and 1983-84. The total length at the end of 6, 12, 18, 24 and 26 months was 121 mm, 183 mm, 237 mm, 261 mm and 264 mm respectively. The length growth parameters were: L∞=300 mm, K=0.0807 (monthly) and t(sub)0=-0.51 month. The weight growth parameters were: W∞= 317g, K=0.0762 (monthly) and t(sub)0= -0.41 month. The exploited stock mainly composed of 1/2 + and 1+ age groups. The annual Z, M and F were 2.34, 1.49 and 0.85 respectively. The l(sub)b, t(sub)b, l(sub)r, t(sub)r and selection factor K were 155 mm, 0.75 year, 65 mm, 0.25 year and 3.875 respectively. The Yw/R was optimum at the exploitation rate (E) of 0.75 and coded mesh size of 37 mm. The total stock for 1982-83 and 1983-84 was 14,624 and 26,190 tons respectively. The standing stock of 1982-83 and 1983-84 was 5,645 and 10,110 tons respectively. The MSY for 1982-83 and 1983-84 was 6,623 and 11,788 tons respectively. The F and Z were lowest in 0+ age group and highest in 1+ age group.

Stock assessment of sin croaker Johnieops sina (Cuvier) from Bombay waters

Growth, mortality and stock parameters of Johnieops sina (Cuvier) based on the data collected from 1989 to 1994 from Sassoon Dock and New Ferry Wharf landing centres of Greater Bombay has been discussed here. The von Bertallanffy's growth parameters for this species were estimated as follows, L∞= 266 mm, K=0.91 per year and W∞=193 g. This species grows to 159 and 223 mm at the end of first and second year of its life. The mortality parameters estimated were Z=6.17, M=2. 03 and F=4.14. The E and U were calculated as 0.62 and 0.63 respectively. Length cohort and Thompson Bell analyses show that there is no decline in the catches at the present level of fishing. But even by doubling the efforts the catches can go up by only 9.4 % indicating that the fishing efforts is not economical and proportional to the increase in yield.

ANALYSIS OF A PROBLEM INVOLVING RADIAL CONSOLIDATION.

An analytical solution is presented for the vertical consolidation of a cylindrical annulus of clay with horizontal drainage occurring to concentric internal and external drainage boundaries. Numerical results are given for various ratios of internal and external radii and it is shown that solutions for conventional one-dimensional consolidation, and for consolidation of a cylindrical block of clay with drainage only to the outer cylindrical boundary form extremes to the analysis presented here. An application of the solution to the estimation of horizontal permeability of clay is briefly described.

APPLICATION OF CENTRIFUGE MODELS IN THE STUDY OF AN INTERACTION PROBLEM.

Rigid retaining walls are considered. Both the backfill and the soil supporting the foundation of the model wall have been made of a single dry granular soil. Attention is limited to one grain.

Wadge Bank trawl fishery studies. Pt. 1. The effect of the 1928 to 1935 commercial trawling on the demersal stock

The demersal fish stock of Wadge Bank is one of the important fish resources for both Sri Lanka and India. Sivalingam and Medcof (1957) have given an account of its history, general features and relative productivity. According to records the total fishing effort on the bank had been fluctuating and very recently the number of boats operating on the bank has suddenly increased, and there is a possibility that still more will begin operating on the bank in the near future (Mendis, 1965). The increased fishing effort with the possibility of still further increase calls for proper management practices by those concerned, in order to obtain the maximum sustained yield from the demersal stock. For this purpose a detailed study of the past performance of the fishery is essential. With this in view all records of commercial operations up to 1960 are being analysed by the present author and are to be published in a series. This is the first paper in the series and gives a detailed analysis of the first commercial trawling operations from 1928 to 1935. Since there had been a major break of about 10 years between this and the present fishery this data is being analysed separately.