LESSER SARDINES

, ANJU.P

S.I.F CUSAT

LESSER SARDINE COMES UNDER 2 FAMILIES

1. Family: clupeidae

2.Family: dussumieridae

MORPHOLOGY

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body is elongate and laterally compressed having a row of scutes

along the ventral edge. Lateral lines is absent and the scales are deciduous. elongate body which is rounded

and not laterally compressed. Abdomen is not keeled and ventral edge of the body is with out scutes.

Family : clupiedae [9 sps.]

.Sardinella jussieu chalamathi , tembang

Sardinella fimbriata fringe scale sartdine

Sardinella albella kowala albella

Sardinella sirm trenched sardine, kareemeen chala

Sardinella clupeoids amblygaster

Sardinella melanura clupia melanura

Sardinella sindensis clupia sindensis

Kowala coval white sardine

Family: dussumieridae [2 sps.].Dussumieria acuta common spart

Dussumieria hasseltii rainbow sardine

distribution.

..Family : clupeidae Family : dusumeiridae

They are seen in the inshore waters along both EW coast regions, further north of cape Comorian, along the entire east coast of India, east coast of Africa, Madagascar, Arabia, Malayan archipelago. Australia, Polynesia, Philippines, china, Sri Lanka, red sea, Pakistan.. etc

coastal along Arabia, India, Sri Lanka , Malayan archipelago and Philippines ..etc.

FOOD AND FEEDING

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.Lesser sardines are essentially plankton feeders , with preference for zooplanktonic organisms. But

some include ,amounts of phytoplankton also as diatoms and

filamentous algae in their diet.

SIZE AT FIRST MATURITY

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..FAMILY clupeidae Dussumierida

e

size at first maturity

12-15 Cm 13-15cm

max. length 25cm 18cm

SHOALING.

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Lesser sardines are shoaling fishes, larger shoals striking the costal waters seasonally

result in quite good catch. This shoaling behavior is advantageous in

escape from predators, provide more opportunity for food , and also decrease

the energy.

REPRODUCTION

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In lesser sardines the sexual maturity is attained in most of the species is in 1 year. Eggs are pelagic with segmented yolk and with a single clear oil globule. Usually females are bigger than males.

SPAWNING SEASON

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.In lesser sardine , spawning of an individual fish is a shorter duration comparing to the species as a whole. On east coast spawning

happens between feb. and lasts till June and peak at Feb. - April. In gulf of manna region Dec -march. In Tuticorin bay it is Oct-Nov. Malabar coast it is April- June. West coast march April to June in pre

monsoon period. According to the region , availability of food, and species the time

varies

FECUNDITY.

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It has been observed to be 10000 to 13000 eggs a female can produce [ fish

of 14.6 to 15.5 cm in length]. The gonads are asymmetrical lobes in clupeidae the left lobe larger than right one. In dussumieridae the right one is

larger than left one.

SEX RATIO

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.Females are observed to be twice the number of males in the commercial

catch, so it is presumed that the mature females migrate to the off

shore waters for breeding

Life history

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.Egg is 1.1-1.56 mm in diameter with an oil globule. Spawning at about 4.00am and it hatch 2 pm. Just hatched larvae is about 2.3-2.6 mm

in length . The eyes, otocyst , heart and the full

compliment of myotomes are formed in the embryo . Pigmentation is also developed in the

numerous small dark chromatophores. Species differ in having different number of pre

anal and post anal myotomes . In 2 or 3 days whole yolk is absorbed.

.Auditory vesicle and vent are well developed and unpaired fin folds had scattered pigment

spots.Juveniles are distinguished by the number of post ventral scutés about 1 year the attain

maturity.

CRAFT AND GEAR

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..STATE KERALA TAMIL NADU KARNATAKA

WEST BANGAL A.P

GEAR gill net – chalai valashore seine – kara valboat seine – kolli valacast net- veesu vala

gill net – choodai valaShore seine Boat seine –Madi valai Cast valai – veechu valai

Gill net Shore seineDrift net Cast net

Drift netsChhandi- jalShore seine – ber jal

Gill net –kili valaShore seine- pedda valaBoat seine – iragru vala

.In Gujarat bag net is used .Boat seines and gill nets are

commonly used gill nets are of 2 types they are 1. Chooda valai

2. Mathi chala valaiWhen at the peak season catch

is large boat seine - paithu vala is used

BOATS

masula boat Pablo boat catamaran

Dug out canoes ran pani boat

mechanised boat [ A.P, T.N,KERALA, KARNATAKA]

FISHERIES.

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Contribution of lesser sardine in all india marine landing – 2.9-7.3%

Average annual yield during the landing ~= 7800tIf we analyse a data from 1986-2000 we can see

landing Is low with 68267t in 1986 Production high at 1995 – 128000 t

East coast -65%West coast- 35%

Tamil nadu ranked first -43%Followed by kerala – 22%Andhra Pradesh – 17%

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Karnataka – 6%Along the coastal states of west bangal , orissa and AP.. On the east coast the peak season is

nov-aprl- may.While in the south east coast of TN, pondicherry

.. Catches are available almost throghout the year

west coast in kerala the catches – aug – jan/ febIn karnataka better landing seen in- sep -nov

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peak catch – sep- feb along the goa coast. Maharashtra coast – dec- april

More than one species contribute to the lesser sardine fishery through out the year

Goa ,karnataka coast – s. gibbosa s . dayi

s . fimbriata s. albella

Kerala coast – s. gibbosa s. Sindensis

s. sirm

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Pak bay and gulf of manna – s.albella s. gibbosa Between vizhinjam and tuticorin – s.sirm

Central coast . All most all species are equally caught.

OTHER factors

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.The Dorab, seer fishes, lactarius and some of the sciaenid's are predate them .

Copepod parasite of the genera NOTHOBOMOLOCHUS , CLAVELLISA AND

PSUEUDOPETALUS are known to be parasitic on Dussumeiri hasseltii in the gill arches, branchial cavity and buccal cavity.

Thank you.