A review of the sciaenid fishery resources of the Indian ocean

The sciaenid fishery of the Indian Ocean is reviewed. Coastal areas of the Indian Ocean are divided into various geographical zones such as east coast of Africa, Red Sea, Arabian and Persian Coast, Pakistan and Indian Coast, Burma and west coast of Malaya, west coast of Indonesia and the western coast of Australia. Hie sciaenid fish landings of each zone is studied. 34 species of sciaenid fishes are considered commercially important among the 48 species of sciaenids occurring in the Indian Ocean. Species composition of the sciaenid fishes in each of the above zone is discussed in detail. The landings of each species is estimated and tabulated. The total landing of the sciaenids in the Indian Ocean is estimated to be about 198,480 tonnes. Otolithes cuvieri is considered to be the most abundant sciaenid forming about 14% (27,5331) of the sciaenid landing of the Indian Ocean. The next important species was Pterotolithes lateoides with 12.7% (25,464 t). The northwest coast of India was the most productive area for the sciaenids contributing about 26% of the sciaenid catch of the Indian Ocean, Burma Coast was also another rich area accounting 16.0% of the catch