International Journal of Aquaculture, 2018, Vol.8, No.8, 53-64
58
Continued Table 3
Sl. No. Species Name
Common Name
IUCN Status Cites Status
34
Rhinobatos annandalei
(Norman,1926)
Bengal guitarfish
DD
35
Sarda orientalis
(Temminck & Schlegel,1844)
Oriental bonito
LC
36
Sardinella longiceps
(Valenciennes,1847)
Indian Oil Sardine
LC
37
Scatophagus argus
(Linnaeus,1766)
Spotted scat
LC
38
Scomberomorus commerson
(Lacepede,1800)
Narrow-barred Spanish Mackerel
NT
39
Scomberomorus guttatus
(Bloch & Schneider,1801)
Indo-Pacific King Mackerel
DD
40
Sphyraena barracuda
(Edwards,1771)
Great barracuda
LC
41
Sphyrna lewini
(Linnaeus,1758)
Scalloped hammerhead
EN
42
Sufflamen fraenatum
(Latreille,1804)
Masked triggerfish
LC
43
Telatrygon zugei
(Muller & Henle,1841)
Pale-edged stingray
NT
44
Terapon jarbua
(Forskkal,1775)
Tiger perch
LC
45
Terapon theraps
(Cuvier,1829)
Largescaled terapon
LC
46
Thryssa mystax
(Bloch & Schneider,1801)
Gangetic anchovy
LC
47
Thunnus albacares
(Bonnaterre,1788)
Yellowfin Tuna
NT
48
Thunnus obesus
(Lowe,1839)
Bigeye tuna
VU
49
Trachinocephalus myops
(Forster,1801)
Snakefish
LC
50
Trichiurus lepturus
(Linnaeus,1758)
Largehead Hairtail
LC
51
Tylosurus crocodilu
s (Peron & lesuer,1821)
Hound needlefish
LC
52
Xiphasia setifer
(Swainson,1839)
Hairtail blenny
LC
53
Xiphias gladius
(Linnaeus,1758)
Swordfish
LC
Anguilla anguilla
was the only critically endangered species collected during study period. As per the previously
published Red Lists, since 2008 this species considered as critically endangered. From Kerala, there are no
detailed landing reports of
Anguilla anguilla
. But occurrence of
Anguilla bengalensis
in the pokkali fields of
Kadamakkudy, Kerala reported by Mumthaz and John in 2017, which was listed as a near threatened species. Our
seasonal studies showed that
Anguilla anguilla
landings were present in harbours of three study areas. Comparing
to the recent landing of Eels with previous years, the results showed that in 2016 the landings were decreased than
two previous years (CMFRI, 2014; 2015; 2016). According to the recent reports of IUCN, its worldwide
population is also decreasing. Barriers to migration, body condition, climate change, changes in ocean currents,
diseases and parasites are the major threats which affected the existence of
Anguilla anguilla
(IUCN, 2017).
Seventeen species of finfishes which coming under the class Chondrichthyes were found during study period. Out
of these seventeen species, five were sharks and five were rays. Two endangered species,
Rhincodon typus
and
Sphyrna lewini
, the vulnerable guitarfishes;
Glaucostegus granulatus
,
Glaucostegus obtusus
,
Rhina ancylostoma
and vulnerable rays;
Himantura uarnak
,
Maculabatis gerrardi
,
Pateobatis bleekeri
, were observed during two
year study period. The comparative study of annual landing reports of CMFRI from 2013 to 2016 showed that the
landings of sharks and rays were increased in recent years. But the presence of skates was noticeably decreased
from 545 tonnes to 83 tonnes per year (CMFRI, 2013; 2014; 2015; 2016).
The whale shark
Rhincodon typus
is the largest species of fish and has a circumglobal distribution in all steamy
and mild waters, except the Mediterranean Sea (Compagno, 2005; Compagno et al., 2008). Fishing pressure on
sharks is high in Indonesia and India and many taxa are overfished (Blaber et al., 2009; Ferretti et al., 2010). As
mentioned above the landings of sharks were increased may be because of highly sophisticated fishing methods
and overfishing. The data published by IUCN reported that current population trend of most of the sharks was
decreasing. Policies connecting to safeguarding and conservation of whale sharks include Appendix II of
Convention for the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS, 1999) and Appendix II of CITES.
In 2001, whale sharks were conserved in India under Schedule I of the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
