Population structure and reproductive biology of selected sciaenid species along the fishing grounds of Goa, west coast of India

Abstract

The present hypothesis on reproductive migration pattern between two species of sciaenids is based on the data collected with the help of the single-day commercial trawl with a fishing effort of 181 h along the fishing grounds of Goa, west coast of India. The observations on abundance revealed that between the two species (Johnius borneensis and Otolithes ruber) that formed bulk of the catch, a significant inverse trend in catch was observed. The pattern of migration based on the examination of female gonadal status suggested J. borneensis to be a continuous spawner and was evidenced by continuous occurrence of gravid and spent females and their juveniles. On the other hand, the rare occurrences of gravid females of O. ruber from the study area suggest that the species spawns away from the coast or might migrate to some potential spawning grounds. Further, an assessment of fecundity and the ova distribution pattern propounded higher fecundity in O. ruber compared to J. borneensis with multiple spawning in both the species.