Lead-trap Net Fishing in the Gulf of Mannar region, Southeast Coast of India

In the present study the qualitative and quantitative fishery data obtained from lead-trap net operation in the Gulf of Mannar was analyzed. Length weight distribution of the 8 fish species caught in the Lead-trap nets was estimated. The 'b' values ranged between 0.468 and 3.398 and differed significantly from 3, which revealed allometric growth for most of the fishes except Sardine and Scromberoides sp. Von Bertalanffy's Growth parameters of fish catch was estimated using FISAT tool. The condition factor (k) ranged from minimum 0.310 for Loligo sps to a maximum 1.292 for Scromberoids sps. In terms of quantity, Leiognathus sp was dominant (17.07%) followed by Siganus (15.59%), Sardine (15.9%), Thryssa (13.48%), Scromberoides (13.09%), Pellona (11.09%), Terapon (7.9%) and Loligo (5.04%) species. It was found more juveniles and brooders are harvested indiscriminately by operation of lead-trap nets which is a major threat to the biodiversity and sustainable fishery of the Gulf of Mannar region.