Myctophid discards from deep sea shrimp trawlers operating off south-west coast of Kerala

Abstract

Total bycatch and discards of deep sea shrimp trawlers operating from Sakthikulangara and Neendakara harbours in Kollam District during the period 2009-10 has been estimated as 11,488 t and it is about 58% of the total catch. Major part of the discarded fishes belongs to mesopelagic group which has the largest resource potential in the Arabian Sea. More than 98% of the bycatch was discarded at sea. Contribution of myctophids in the total discards is about 32%. Eight species of myctophids belonging to the genus Diaphus (Diaphus watasei, D. luetkeni, D. dumerilli, D. hudsoni and D. effulgens), Myctophum (Myctophum spinosum and M. obtusirostre) and Benthosema (Benthosema fibulatum) were identified and quantified from the samples.