Ecology, Environment and Conservation Paper

BREEDING BIOLOGY OF INDIAN MACKEREL, RASTRELLIGER KANAGURTAOFF MANGALORE COAST

Shankar Gondhalli, S. M Shivaprakash, A. R. Vijay, S. Benakappa and Kamalesh Panda

Abstract

To know the breeding seasonality of Indian mackerel, Rastrelliger kanagurtaoff Mangalore coast the present investigation was undertaken. The present study is based on the observation of a total of 371 Rastrelliger kanagurta individuals ranging in size from 15 to 26 cm. Monthly samples collected from Mangalore Main fish landing centre from March 2009 to February 2010. In fecundity study, maximum size of ova measured up to 0.68 mm. In stage VI(a) and in stage VI(b) mode of advanced group get sifted to 0.73mm from previous stage at 0.65mm was a mode at.0.65mm. Maximum size of the ova being 0.76 mm, it is clear that the size at first maturity for male appears to lie between 19 and 21 cm with an average length 20 cm. In case of female, all were in immature stage up to 15-17cm. The fecundity in Rastrelliger kanagurta ranged from 84,896 to 94,794 eggs with an average of 90,819 eggs.