Production efficiency of two demersal finfishes in the trawling grounds off Veraval

Abstract

The feeding rate of Nemipterus japonicus in the trawling grounds off Veraval decreased with advancing age from 5.8% body weight/day (age: 0.1-0.5 year) to 4.0% bw/d (3.0-3.5 y) with an average of 4.7% bw/d. The production efficiency was 0.06. i.e. 6% of the consumed food was converted for growth. The feeding rate of Saurida tumbil also decreased with advancing age from 10.8% bw/d (age: 0.2- 0.5y) to 7.8% bw/d (4.0-4.5 y) with an average of 9.1% bw/d. The production efficiency was 0.03. The annual food consumption of the exploited biomass (27131) of both the species was 60.923 t. The annual food consumption of the two species was almost equal to that of the total trawl landings at Veraval. indicating high predation mortality in the ecosystem.