Journal of the Marine Biological Association of India

Seerfish fishey of the world.

Volume 40 Issue 1&2

M. Devaraj and H. Mohamad Kasim

Abstract

The annual world seerfish production, inspite of some fluctuations (and decrease in 1978, 1984 & 1992) steadily incnastd from 128,100t in 1973 to 210,089t in 1977 and then to an all time peak of 492,011t in 1991. During the period 1970-'80, the leading countries in seerfish production were Indonesia (33,672t), India (22,342t), China (16,6691), Mexico (10557t), Korea (10,367t), Philippines (10,329t), Thailand (9,885t), Malaysia (9,469t), USA (7,741t) and Japan (5,142t). But during 1981-'90 China (101,143t), became the leading country in seerfish production followed by Indonesia (51,517t), India (34,336t), Korea (19,274t), Philippines (15,860t) Malaysia (13 J03t), Mexico (13,23lt), Thailand (12,51Ot), Oman (10,655t) and Pakistan (7,737t). During 1991-'93 production was in the order: China (164,293t) followed by Indonesia (69,306t), India (39,334t), Malaysia (19,762t), Korea (17,669t). Mexico (17,27lt), Philippines (12,74lt), Thailand (11,829t), Pakistan (10,219t) and UAE (7,043t). During this period Korea, Philippines and Thailand registered a decline of 8.3%. 19.7% and 5.5% from the 1981-'90 level. On an average the Pacific Ocean contributed 6496, the Indian Ocean 26% and the Atlantic Ocean 10% to the total seerfish production. Unlike the Pacific and the Indian oceans, the Atlantic Ocean showed an overall decline in the production trend in recent years. The Pacific Ocean indicated a better bend in production compared to the Indian Ocean. 

 

During 1991-'93 in the seerfish landing from the Pacific ocean  was  dominated  by Scombermorus niphonius (56.4%) followed by S.commerson (15.9%), Scombermorus spp. (13.3%), S. guttatus (3.1%), S. sierra (2.2%) and Acanthocybium solandri (0.1%). In the Indian Ocean S. commerson (49.3%), S. guttatus (23.5%), Scomberomorus spp. (25.7%), S. lineolatus (1.3%) and A solandri (0.2%) coustituted the catches.India was the leading country followed by Indonesia, Oman, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, UAE, Iran, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Yemen. The landings from the Atlantic Ocean were dominated by S. maculatus (59.9%), followed by S. cavalla (24.6%). S. tritor (8.1%), A solandri (4.2%), Scombermorus spp. (2.1%) and S. regalis (1.1%). The leading seerfish producing countries included Mexico, Venezuela,USA, Trinidad, Ghana, Senegal and Dominican Republic The overall species composition indicates that S. cdmmerson was the dominant species (34.1%) followed by S. niphonius (17.6%), S. maculatus (8.2%), S. guttatus (8.1%), S. sierra (2.9%), S. cavalla (2.096), S. tritor (LO%), S. regalis (0.1) and the other minor species have been pooled as Scomberomorus spp. (26.2%).

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Date : 30-12-1998