Marine sponges are diverse, widely distributed and have prospects for the development of novel bioactive compounds. In the present study, the abundance and distribution of marine sponges along the southwest Coast of India were determined using sponges obtained as ‘bycatch’ in 2010 and 2011. The study area included Kanyakumari, Chinnamuttom and Arokiapuram landing centres. The 'bycatch' specimens of sponges obtained from three types of fishing nets were surveyed. The wet weight of the sponges collected from the gillnet was higher than that of crab net and lobster net. A total of 14 sponge species were collected in varying quantities during the study period.; The most widely distributed species in all three sampling stations was Echinodictyum gorgonoides. The study on the distribution and species richness of sponges in three stations for the period of 2010 - 2011 indicated maximum species diversity at Kanyakumari (13 species), followed by an equal number of species at Chinnamuttom and Arokiapuram (10 species).

Marine sponge, distribution, diversity, Kanyakumari coast, bycatch