Groupers constitute one of the important demersal resources off Malabar Coast. They contributed to 4 % of the trawl landings with an annual average catch of 2,727 t during 1992 to 2002. Their exploitation has registered a sharp increase with highest catch of over 5,000t in 1996 and 2002. The spiny-cheek grouper, Epinephelus diacanthus formed nearly 90% of the groupers landed. The length weight relationship of the species is Log W = - 4.03+2.8203 Log L (r = 0.9899). The fish attained a length of 244,372,439,474 and 492 mm at the completion of 1 to 5 years respectively. L_∞ is 512 mm and K=0.65 y^-1. The natural mortality (M) and fishing mortality (F) were found to be 1.16 y^-1' and 1.75 y^-1 respectively. The exploitation ratio (E) was higher than the E_max indicating greater fishing pressure on this species.

Groupers, spiny-cheek grouper, fishery, population parameters