Journal of the Marine Biological Association of India

Evaluation of feeding indices of cobia Rachycentron canadum (Linnaeus. 1766) from Northwest coast of India

Volume 55 Issue 2

M.K. Sajeevan and B. Madhusoodana Kurup

doi: 10.6024/jmbai.2013.55.2.01778A-03

Abstract

Cobia Rachycentron canadum (Linnaeus. 1766) is an esteemed table fish occurring along both east and west coast of India. Feeding indices of the species inhabiting waters of the North West coast of Indian EEZ was studied to understand the variation of its feeding intensity based on season, sex and life history changes. Monthly variation of stomach condition of cobia male, female, pooled and size wise were analyzed. In general, 56% of fishes were found in either actively fed or moderately fed state. Except during April and July they were found in actively fed condition. Analysis of occurrence of empty  stomach in different length classes of fishes revealed that the percentage of occurrence of empty stomachs decreased with the fish growth. Month- wise Mean Index of Feeding intensity (MIF) and Index of Fullness (IF) values showed that cobia fed well during post monsoon periods but poor feeding activity was noticed in July. Gastrosomatic index for male, female and
pooled samples of matched with the MIF and IF values. The results indicated a seasonal variation in feeding intensity of cobia. On an average, feeding intensity during July was low. 

Keywords

Cobia, feeding intensity, gastrosomatic index, seasonality of feeding.

Date : 15-01-2014