Studies on Selected Myctophid Fishes in Arabian Sea with respect to their Status in Deep Sea Trawl Bycatch, Length-Weight Relationship, Reproductive Biology and Population Dynamics Thesis submitted to the Cochin University of Science and Technology in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the award of the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Fisheries Science under the Faculty of Marine Sciences Cochin University of Science and Technology Cochin- 682 016, India by VIPIN, P. M., M.Sc. (Reg. No. 3644) FISHING TECHNOLOGY DIVISION CENTRAL INSTITUTE OF FISHERIES TECHNOLOGY (INDIAN COUNCIL OF AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH) COCHIN-682 029, INDIA June 2015 This thesis is dedicated to my parents and teachers I, Vipin, P. M., hereby declare that the thesis entitled “Studies on Selected Myctophid Fishes in Arabian Sea with respect to their Status in Deep Sea Trawl Bycatch, Length-Weight Relationship, Reproductive Biology and Population Dynamics”, is an authentic record of the research work carried out by me under the supervision and guidance Dr. M R. Boopendranath, Principal Scientist (Retd.), Fishing Technology Division, Central Institute of Fisheries Technologyand joint supervision of Dr. M.P. Remesan, Principal Scientist, Fishing Technology Division, Central Institute of Fisheries Technology, Cochin, in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Ph.D. degree under the Faculty of Marine Sciences and that no part thereof has previously formed the basis for award of any degree, diploma, associateship, fellowship or any other similar titles of this or any other University or Institution. Cochin-29 Vipin, P. M. June, 2015 Central Institute of Fisheries Technology (Indian Council of Agricultural Research) P.O. Matsyapuri, Cochin-682 029 This is to certify that this thesis titled “Studies on Selected Myctophid Fishes in Arabian Sea with respect to their Status in Deep Sea Trawl Bycatch, Leength-Weight Relationship, Reproductivve Biology annd Population Dynamics” is an authentic record of the research work carried out by Mr. Vipin, P.M., M.Sc., under my guidance and supervision in the Fishing Technology Division of Central Institute of Fisheries Technology, Cochin, in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy and that no part thereof has previously formed the basis for award of any degree, diploma, associateship, fellowship or any other similar titles of this or any other University or Institution. I further certify that all the relevant corrrections and modifications suggested byb the audience during the pre-synopsis seminar and recommended by the Doctoral Committee of the candidate has been incorporated in the thesis. Cochin-29 (M R. Boopo endranath) June, 2015 Supervising Guide Dr. M R. Boopendranath Principal Scientist (Retd.d.) Fishing Technology Divisiion Central Institute of Fisheries Tecchnology (Indian Council of Agricultural Research) P.O. Matsyapuri, Cochin-682 029 This is to certify that this thesis titled “Studies on Selected Myctophid Fishes in Arabian Sea with respect to their Status in Deep Sea Trawl Bycatch, Length-Weight Relationship, Reproductive Biology and Population Dynamics” is an authentic record of the research work carried out by Mr. Vipin, P.M., M.Sc., under my co-guidance and joint supervision in the Fishing Technology Division of Central Institute of Fisheries Technology, Cochin, in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy and that no part thereof has previously formed the basis for award of any degree, diploma, associateship, fellowship or any other similar titles of this or any other University or Institution. Cochin-29 (M. P. Remesan) June 2015 Co-Guide Dr. M. P. Remesan Principal Scientist Fishing Technology Division Central Institute of Fisheries Technology P.O. Matsyapuri, Cochin-682 029 It is my pleasant duty to express my gratitude to all those who have contributed in many ways towards successful completion of this thesis. I thankfully acknowledge Dr. C.N. Ravishankar, Director, Central Institute of Fisheries Technology (CIFT) for his encouragement, timely assessment of the research work and also for extending all the facilities at CIFT for my research work. I would like to express my deep and sincere gratitude to my Supervising Guide Dr. M.R. Boopendranath and Co-Guide Dr. M.P. Remesan, for their guidance, supervision and encouragements throughout the course ofthis research work. The support, care and freedom they have extended have helped me to overcome all the hurdles and successfully complete the research work. I thankfully acknowledge Dr. Leela Edwin, Head, Fishing Technology Division, CIFT for her overall assessment and appraisal of my work, throughout the research period. I warmly thank Dr. V.R. Madhu, Senior Scientist, Fishing Technology Division, CIFT, for his excellent guidance in statistical analysis. I wish to express my most sincere gratitude to Dr. P. Pravin, Principle Scientist, Fishing Technology Division; Dr. Saly N Thomas, Principle Scientist, Fishing Technology Division, Dr. P. Muhamed Ashraf, Senior Scientist, Fishing Technology Division, CIFT, for their valuable suggestions, encouragement, and help rendered whenever I approached them, during the course of research work. I thankfully acknowledge Director and Dean, Faculty of Marine Sciences, for all the support provided in the smooth conduct of the research work. I sincerely place on record my thanks to Dr. M. Harikrishnan, Reader, School of Industrial Fisheries, Cochin University of Science and Technology (CUSAT) and Dr. K.S. Sobhana, Principal Scientist, Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) for facilitating my research work and for all the support and guidance rendered during the period of the research work. I owe a great deal of appreciation to all Scientists of Central Institute of Fisheries Technology, for their encouragements and co-operation. I sincerely thank Centre for Marine Living Resources and Ecology (CMLRE), Ministry of Earth Sciences, Govt. of India for financial assistance. This study was carried out as part of the CMLRE funded project “Assessment of Myctophid Resources in the Arabian Sea and Development of Harvest and Post-harvest Technologies”. I thankfully acknowledge Mr. R. C. Sinha, Director, Central Institute of Fisheries Nautical and Engineering Training (CIFNET) for his encouragement to completion of research work and also express my sincere gratitude to Dr. A. V. Shibu, Senior Instructor (Fishing Technology), Dr. S. Sabu, Instructor (Fishing Technology), Dr. S. Balu,Instructor (Fishing Technology), Fishing Technology Division, CIFNET, for their valuable suggestions, encouragement. I would like to express my sincere thanks to Mr. Renju Ravi, Mr. Pradeep, K., Jose Fernandez, T.,Mr. Pradip Kumar Mahato, Senior Research Fellows, CIFTand Dr. Aneesh Kumar, K.V., Project Scientist, CMLRE, Kochi, for their encouragements and overall help throughout the research period. I thank all technical and non-technical staff of CIFT, especially in the Fishing Technology Division, for their courteous assistance throughout the study period. I am thankful to all Research Fellowsand Project staff at CIFT, especially in the Fishing Technology Division for their sustained co- operation, encouragement and friendship. The support of my family has been unconditional all these years and without their encouragement, prayers and understanding, it would have been impossible for me to finish this work. I sincerely thank all my family members and relatives, for their love and encouragement. Vipin P. M. Contents 1. Introduction -------------------------------------------------------------------- 1 1.1 Global marine capture fishery production ----------------------------------- 1 1.2 Trends in marine fish production in India -------------------------------------- 4 1.3 Potential of myctophid resources ------------------------------------------------- 4 1.4 Rationale and objectives of the study ------------------------------------------- 7 2. Review of Literature ----------------------------------------------------------- 9 2.1 Distribution of myctophids in world oceans --------------------------------- 12 2.1.1 Distribution of myctophids in the Indian Ocean --------------------------- 12 2.1.2 Distribution of myctophids in other oceans ---------------------------------- 19 2.2 Taxonomy of myctophids --------------------------------------------------------- 23 2.3 Harvesting systems for myctophids -------------------------------------------- 34 2.4 Other aspects ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 42 2.5 Conclusion -------------------------------------------------------------------------- 42 3. Myctophid Bycatch and Discards from Deep Sea Shrimp Trawlers Operating Off South-West Coast of India ---------------------- 43 3.1 Introduction ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 43 3.2 Materials and Methods --------------------------------------------------------- 44 3.3 Results ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 46 3.3.1 Deep sea shrimp landings ------------------------------------------------------- 47 3.3.2 Bycatch landings ----------------------------------------------------------------- 49 3.3.3 Myctophids in the bycatch ------------------------------------------------------ 52 3.3.4 Bycatch species other than myctophids --------------------------------------- 56 3.4 Discussion ----------------------------------------------------------------------------