Finfish seed resources of Adyar estuary and Kovalam backwater around Madras, India

Abstract

A survey of the seasonal and specieswise distribution and abundance of finfish seed resources of Adyar Estuary and Kovalam Backwater around Madras was carried out from January 1984 to December 1986. Adyar Estuary was found to be the potentially good ground for finfish seed collection. The seasonal and percentage composition of seeds of the cultivable fishes Mugil cephalus, Liza macrolepis, Liza parsia, Liza tade and Liza cimnesius and Chanos chanos from the estuary and backwater have been assessed. Stray occurrence of other cultivable finfish seed such as Sillago spp., Sigams spp., Etroplus spp. and Epinephelus spp. were also recorded. Among the grey mullets, Uie striped mullet Mi^il cephalus occurred only from December to March whereas the fry and fingerlings of other grey mullet species occurred throughout the year. The peak season for milkfish seed occurrence was from May to July and November-December being the secondary season. The fry and fingerlings of the striped mullet Mugil cephalus of the length ranging 15-79 mm were collected predominantly between November and February. Those of the other grey mullet species of the length ranging 15-54 mm occurred throughout the year. In the case of milkfish, 20-59 mm size range was dominant during the peak season. A brief account on the fry and fingerlings of other finfishes has been presented. The magnitude of seed availability is correlated with the hydrological conditions of Adyar Estuary and Kovalam Backwater. Ecological significance of the results is discussed.