Present status of exploitation of fish and shellfish resources: Indian mackerel

The Indian mackerel Rastrelliger kanagurta contributes to 3% of the total mackerel catch of the west coast during the monsoon period. The catch trend at important centres Viz. Vizhinjam, Cochin, Calicut, Mangalore, Karwar and Goa and the biological aspects such as length composition, maturation during monsoon, premonsoon and post monsoon seasons are dealt with. In the Iight of the information available at present, it is suggested that a reduction in the fishing effort on mackerel s stock along the west coast in the later half of the premonsoon and during monsoon may help to replenish the populations for sustained exploitation of the resources