Survey on landing of trash fishes in the major fish landing centers of Tuticorin, South east coast of India

Abstract

This paper discusses the composition of the trash fishes in the study area. Totally 2502, 817 tonnes were recorded as trash including 2009.346 tonnes in Tuticorin fishing harbour, 168.722 tonnes in Tharuvaikulam and 324,749 tonnes in Thirespuram fish landing area during August 2010 to July 2011. Totally of 103 species of different trash fishes were recorded, in which Leiognathidae family was dominant. Two way ANOVA of fish landing data showed a significant deviation (P<0.05) between species and months in the landing centers of Tuticorin coast. This study concludes that the trash fishes were found to be more in the Tuticorin coast. Fishing of juvenile fishes affects the wild fishery resources, proper regulation of net size must be improved for the conservation of marine resources. The fishes that are not commercially important can be converted into value added products and can be marketed, so that the livelihood of fisher folks can be improved.