2023 - Volume 12 - Issue 1
The status of Belone fishery of Androth Island is discussed based on the data during the period of three years (June 2014 to May 2017). The annual needle fish landing of Androth Island was 120.102 tonnes (June 2014 - May 15), 131.294 tonnes (June 2015 - May 2016) and 114.352 tonnes (June 2016 - May 2017). The species landed in Androth is Tylosurus acus melanotous (88 %) Tylosurus corcordilus (11%), and Ablennes hians (1%). The month-wise gillnet effort varied from 50 to 384.The highest monthly CPUE (163) was recorded in the month of July, 2015 and lowest (11) in the month of September, 2014. The full beaks are mainly exploited in gill nets. Pablo boats of 5 to 8m overall length with inboard and outboard engines are engaged throughout the season for belone and hemiramphid fishery in Androth. The present study is the first estimate of species wise landing of needle fishes in Androth Island Lakshadweep.
