Assessment of mackerel stock along the Indian coast

Abstract

Study on thestockof mackenl.Ra~trelliger kumagurta, alongthe wwt coast during 1984-88 revealed that its annual average yield was short of only 891 tonne? to theestimated MSY of 50 732tomes.Theeffort has to be incnastd by another 61 % to reach &e MSY level. Asit may be uneconomical the present level of fishing can be taken to be at its optimum. Similar studier on theeast coast, however, showed that the exploitation has surpassed the MSY Id but theyield fell shw of MSY by 1609 tonnca. A 39% redudion in effort is needed to maintain thefishery at theMSY Ievel. At thed-India level thefishey was almost at the MSY level with nn average annual catch of 73 571 tom againstthe MSY of 73 521 tonnu. h~therincrease in effort would only reduce thecatch. A reduction in effort by 21% canyield almost the s~lequantity improving economics of the hhuy and can save large-scale exploitation of young mackerel found along Andhra coast.