Cynoglossus macrostomus – Malabar sole Flatfishes are deep bodied, laterally compressed fishes, easily recognizable by the presence of both eyes on one side in juvenile and post-metamorphic individuals.
They belong to Order Pleuronectiformes Major families in Indian waters – Cynoglossidae, Soleidae, Bothidae, Paralichthyidae, Psettodidae, Citharidae. Major species in commercial fishery - Cynoglossus macrostomus, Psettodes erumei, C. arel. Major gear – Trawl (87%), mini trawl (8%); other gears (5%)–cast net, purse seine, bag net. Habitat – Benthic found on muddy, sandy bottom of shelf areas, some occur upto 400 m depth.
70000 Trend in the region wise flatfish landings during 1985 - 2009 Halibut Flounders Soles SE NE SW NW NW 60000
50000 SW
40000
SE
30000
NE 20000
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% 10000 Regionwise – groupwise landings of flatfishes during 1995 - 2009
0 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005
January
February Biology and population characteristics of C. macrostomus Flatfish species occurring March in the fishery in Kerala Soles: April Peak spawning period Recruitment period: Population Cynoglossus macrostomus May (99 %) Kochi : Aug – Sept April - August (off Calicut) parameters June Cynoglossus arel Calicut : Dec– April. August – September (off Lc - 65 mm August C. bilineatus Kochi) Mangalore: Oct – Dec L∞ - 180 mm C. punticeps Mean size in the fishery September Synaptura commersoniana K/yr - 0.85 October Calicut – 94.7 mm T - 3.8 Synaptura albomaculata Trophic level: 3.28 max November Kochi – 119 mm Z - 7.67 Flounders: Vulnerability: low December Food M - 0.85 Pseudorhombus arsius Fishery: zero year class Monthwise contribution of Cynoglossus macrostomus Polychaetes, amphipods, E - 0.45 to the trawl fishery at Kochi Halibut: small bivalves (below optimum Utilization: Mostly consumed fresh; also Psettodes erumei level) salted and sundried
28000
23000
('000 kg)
18000
13000
8000 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009
Trend in the flatfish landings in Kerala during 1985 - 2009
Prepared by - Demersal Fisheries Division, Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute, Kochi 682018 Jan 2011