Capture Fisheries

MARINE

       INLAND

COLD WATER

MARINE SECTOR

Estimation of Marine Fish Production
The marine fish production in India during the year 2000 was estimated at 2.7 million tonries registering a 10.3% increase over the previous year. The data were made available to different interested agencies. Oil sardine landings recorded an all time high of 367,500 tonnes which was about 53% higher than the previous year. Ribbonfish landings were 183,000 tonnes with an increase of 47% over the last year. There was a decline of about 35% in the landings of mackerel; the landings during 2000 being 135,600 tonnes. The penaeid prawns showed an increase of 17% over the previous year with the landings to the tune of 204,500 tonnes during 2000. A marginal increase of about 3% was noticed in Bombayduck landings which were about 96, 700 tonne~ in the year 2000. The non penaeid prawn landings during 2000 were about 151,500 tonnes which was about 2-4% more than the previous year. An increase of 22% was noticed in the landings of catfish which was about 57,600 tonnes during the year 2000.

Status of Deep Sea Prawn Resources
Exploitation of the deep sea prawns was continued along the south-west coast of India at depths ranging from 175-400 m by shrimp trawlers. The total catch declined from 25,247 tonnes at a catch rate of 53 kg in 1999-2000 to 10,042 tonnes at a catch rate of 31 kg/hr during 2000-01. Contribution of pandalid prawns to the fishery declined from 78% to 49% during the current year. While adults represented the fishery during 1999-2000, juveniles contributed more in 2000-0~. Unlike the coastal species, the deep sea prawns are highly susceptible to overexploitation due to their long life span, slow growth rate and low fecundity. Restriction on exploitation by introducing catch quota system or limited entry of fishing vessels are the various management measures to be considered for implementation. 

Revalidation of Potential Yield Estimate in the Indian EEZ
The potential yield estimates of marine fishery resources in the Indian EEZ were revalidated by using recent data. The revalidated estimates is 3.934 million tones consisting of 2.017 million tonnes of demersal resources, 1.673 million tonnes of pelagic resources and 0.244 million tonnes of oceanic resources. The potential yield estimates were made for 68 species for the first time.

INLAND SECTOR

Assessment of Productive Potential of Wetlands by Satellite Imagery Satellite USS-ill images of IRS,.IC/ID in respect of West Bengal were c:!:l1alysed for estimation of size and shape of the water bodies in different districts. Water temperature, pH, salinity, nitrate, total nitrogen, calcium, gross primary production and respiration were analysed in selected water bodies and the results indicated that these parameters can be estimated using properties of satellite images pertaining to the water body. GIS was created on the basis of data collected from :the field. Based on the information extracted from the satellite image of West Bengal, a geographical information system (GIS) has been developed in respect of water bodies more than 50 ha in size to help the planners and decision makers in advocating the optimum management policies.

Fish Yield Assessment of Reservoirs
Ecological investigations of five reservoirs of southern Rajasthan were conducted. They were shallow reservoirs with alkaline water. The fish yield in the reservoirs ranged from 23.0 to 172 kg/ha with dominance of major and minor carps. Based on the production potential ranging from 350 in Kothari to 500 kg/ha in Khari and Udaisagar, these reservoirs can be categorised as highly productive. Stocking of Indian major carps @ 150 fingerlings in Kothari to 1500 fingerlings/ha in Khari and Udaisagar reservoirs have been suggested.

Fishery Status of Kerala Backwaters
The fishery and biology of prawns in Kayarnkulam backwater of Kerala were studied. Penaeus indicus, Metapenaeus dobsoni and M. monoceros contributed substantially (831 tonnes) to the total catch. These species fished with fine mesh, seine nets and gill nets are subjected to both recruitment overfishing and growth overfishing. Strict regulation of exploitation by enhancing the mesh size of seine nets has been suggested.

Identification and Cataloguing of Ornamental Fishes of North East Region
Identification and cataloguing of potential ornamental fish species have been done in the north-eastern states and West Bengal. Breeding of ornamental fishes is being standardized. 

Development of Fish Health Assessment Method
A qualitative health assessment index (HAl) for rapid evaluation of fish condition in the field was tried successfully to evaluate the general health status of fish populations in river Hooghly from a polluted and non-polluted site. It revealed higher HAl (61.5) in polluted site compared to non-polluted site (26.5) in fish R. rita.

Environmental Status of Nainital Lake (Uttaranchal)
The winter fish kill in Nainitallake is very common. Therefore investigation was conducted to know the reason. It was observed that due to intense nutrient loading the oxygen cycle has been adversely affected in the lake. The presence of toxic substances like ammonia and hydrogen sulphide was recorded at bottom. In Nainitallake, the fi~hes are facing acute stress condition due to low oxygen level at surface as well as bottom of the lake.

Survey of High Mountain Lakes in Central Himalayan Region
A survey was conducted in high altitude lakes of the Central Himalayan region of Garhwal to evaluate their ecological features, biodiversitY and fisheries. Most of these lakes have religious sanctitY and serve as biodiversitY sanctuaries. The survey has revealed 'that these coldwater lakes are oligotrophic in nature.