A review on status, resources, exploitation and management measures of marine catfish fisheries of India

Marine catfish resources are distributed in the tropical Indo-Pacific region and form an important part of demersal fish catches along the entire coastline of India. Out of total catfish catches in India, 99% of the catches are dominated by species of the genus Tachysurus. Almost 70% of the catch originated from the west coast. State-wise, the biggest offers were from Kerala and Maharashtra and Karnataka. Among the eight maritime states of India aside from Andhra and Tamil Nadu, the general nature in the production of catfishes is of increasing trend. The fisheries are essentially exploited by automated trawl (33%) trailed by mechanized gill netters (21%), non-automated gear (14%), purse seine (11%) hooks and line (10%) and dol net (5%). Overfishing is a noteworthy issue in catfish fisheries, seems they are abused widely by trawlers and purse seiners. The trademark proliferation, shoaling nature, and relocation of numerous species of marine catfishes made them simple focus for over-exploitation. The management measures for future fishery enhancement can be achieved by either diminishing the fishing pressure or expanding the mesh size of the cod-end of the gear. The control or prohibition on bottom trawling operation will likewise lessen benthic fauna pulverization and the exploitable resources sustaining environment degradation. The status, resources, exploitation and management measures of marine catfish fisheries of India are discussed in this review.

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