Study on the growth of three species of silverbellies from the South-East Coast of India

Abstract

Growth parameters were estimated for three species of silverbellies from the south-east coast of India, based on samples collected from trawl landings at Kasimedu Fisheries Harbour in Chennai. Asymptotic length L, annual growth co-efficient K and theoretical age of the fish at zero length t₀, were derived as 139.9 mm, 1.41 yr^-1 and -0.119 yr for <i>Photopectoralis bindus</i>, 121.5 mm, 1.525 yr^-1 and -0.01212 yr for <i>Secutor insidiator </i>and 166.65 mm, 1.3 yr^-1 and -0.0159 yr for <i>Gazza minuta</i>. Average daily growth rate ranged between 0.45 mm and 0.13 mm in <i>P. bindus</i>, 0.34 mm and 0.03 mm in <i>S. insidiator </i>and 0.62 mm and 0.1 mm in <i>G. minuta</i>. At the end of the 1^st and 2^nd year of its life, <i>P. bindus </i>attains lengths of 110.5 mm and 132.3 mm, <i>S. insidiator</i>, 94.9 mm and 115.6 mm and <i>G. minuta</i>, 122.1 mm and 154.5 mm. Longevity was estimated as 2-2.2 yrs for <i>P. bindus </i>and <i>S. insidiator </i>and 2.4 yrs for <i>G. minuta</i>.