Journal of the Marine Biological Association of India

Stock assessment of Dolphinfish, Coryphaena hippurus (Linnaeus, 1758) off southwest coast of India

Volume 54 Issue 1

Diana Benjamin and B. Madhusoodana Kurup doi: 10.6024/jmbai.2012.54.1.01675-12

Abstract

Based on the data collected from three fisheries harbours of Kerala during 2008-09, the age, growth, mortality and stock assessment of dolphin fish, Coryphaena hippurus was carried out. Asymptotic length (L∞) and growth coefficient (K) were estimated as 194.25 cm and 0.40 per year respectively while average total, natural and fishing mortality coefficients were found as 0.97, 0.60 and 0.37 respectively. The relative yield per recruit and average biomass per recruit were determined as a function of LC/L∞ and M/K where it was 0.28 and 1.5 respectively. The exploitation ratio (E) is worked out to be 0.38 and therefore the stock is considered underexploited. The results of the present study revealed that there is scope for increasing fishing effort targeting Coryphaena hippurus along the southwest coast of India to increase the level of fishing of this species.

Keywords

Coryphaena hippurus, growth, mortality,recruitment, yield per recruit, exploitation.

Date : 27-06-2012