Population Dynamics and Fishery of Ribbonfish (Trichiurus lepturus) of Saurastra Coast

Abstract

Ribbonfish fishery in Saurastra coast of Gujarat is majorly supported by Trichiurus lepturus. It is exploited by trawls and gillnets throughout the year with peak during September to December. The highest length of T. lepturus was found to be 125 cm with a mean length of 76.47 cm. The asymptotic length, growth coefficient, and age at zero length were 131.25 cm, 0.13 and -0.0777 years. The performance index was 3.35. Recruitment pattern was trimodal with peak during May to July. The smallest length of recruitment was 27 cm. The total, natural and fishing mortality was 0.44, 0.13 and 0.31. The exploitation ratio and rate of exploitation was 0.30 and 0.105. The annual total stock, biomass and MSY was 1,91,935 t, 1,55,277 t and 34,161 t, respectively. The yield and yield per recruit at present fishing effort was 23,682.5 t and 65.13 g. The study revealed that currently the ribbonfish at Saurastra coast of Gujarat is underexploited. The fishing pressure has to be increased by 120% from the present condition to get maximum yield and biomass.