Inventory on the coastal finfish and shellfish species of Zuari estuary southwest coast of India

Assessment of finfish and shellfish species were carried out for a period of three years through continuous surveys (400 gillnet fishing experiments) with a total fishing effort of 100 fishing days along the Zuari estuary. This study yielded 286 finfish and shellfish species comprising of 156 demersal fish, 68 pelagic fish, 38 molluscan and 24 crustacean species. The species observed in this study covered all the trophic levels in the food web as well as the ecologically vulnerable and less resilient species (20-25%). Majority of the commercially important species of Zuari estuary were also collected in this study contribute to 70% of the catch. Thus, this inventory forms comprehensive information about the finfish and shellfish diversity in Zuari estuary during 2013 to 201