Coastal Aquaculture and Mariculture

Unit 5 - Major groups of Fisheries in India

5.1.2. Lesser sardines
The lesser sardines belong to the families Clupeidae and Dussmieridae. Though lesser sardines rank much lower than the oil sardines, they are of considerable importance. They are shoaling fishes, the longer shoals striking the coastal waters seasonally resulting in quite good catches. They occur commonly in the inshore waters along both the east and west coasts of India. The lesser sardines comprising several species of Sardinella other than S. longiceps show wide distribution in the tropics and are one of the major pelagic fishery resources of our country. They occur in the landings of all the maritime states. However, they particularly contribute to a lucrative fishery along the southeast and southwest coasts. Of the 15 species of lesser sardines in the Indo-Pacific region, 12 species occur in the Indian waters. They are Sardinella jussieu (Tembang), S. gibbosa, S. fimbriata (Fringe-scale sardine), S. albello (Short-bodied sardine), Amblygaster sirm (Spotted sardine / Trenched sardine), S. dayi, S. clupeoides, (Bleeker smooth belly sardine) S. melanura (Black-tipped sardine), S. sindensis, Kowala covala, Escualosa thoracata (White sardine), Dussumieria acuta (common sprat / rainbow sardine) and D. hasseltii.
Distribution
Global
It is widely distributed along the east coast of Africa, Mauritius, Seychelles, Madagascar, Arabia, India, Malay Archipelago, Australia, Polynesia, Micronesia, Phillipines, China, Taiwan, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Some of the lesser sardine species may not be represented in these countries.
India
They occur along both the east and west coasts. However, catches are abundant in North of Cape comorin along the entire east coast.
Production trend
The catch of lesser sardines varied from 19,551 tonnes in 1962 (3.03% of total) to 1,112,117 tonnes in 1975 (7.88% of total) during 1958 -1979. They contributed 2.9 -7.3% to the total annual marine fish production of the country during 1986-2000; 4.8% during 1996-2000. The east coast contributed 65% during 1986-2000 (average: 67,172 t); West coast -35% (35,449 t). Tamil Nadu stood first in lesser sardine production (average: 42,263 t, 43%) followed by Kerala (22%); Andhra Pradesh (17%) and Karnataka (6%) in 2004.
Species composition
More than one species contribute to the lesser sardine fishery, forming a fishery throughout the year. In the Goa-Karnataka coast, Sardinella gibbosa, S. dayi, S. fimbriata and S. albello are abundant. Along the Kerala coast, S. gibbosa, S. sindensis and Amblygaster sirm dominate while S. clupeoides, S. fimbriata, S. melanura and S. jonesi occur occasionally. S. albello and S. gibbosa are dominant in the Palk Bay and the Gulf of Mannar regions while S. sirm is common between Vizhinjam and Tuticorin. Along the central east coast, S. gibbosa, S. albella, S. dayi, S. sirm, S. clupeoides, S. fimbriata and S. gibbosa are abundant.
Recent production

(Source: CMFRI, Annual Reports)

Size composition
The lesser sardines do not grow to a big size. 0 and 1-year classes mainly sustain the lesser sardine fishery. Total length of the different species forming the fishery ranges from 4 to 20 cm. Fishing season
Lesser sardines form a year round fishery in different regions of the country, but the fishing season, species composition and catch rates vary between and within regions. On the east coast i.e., along West Bengal, Orissa and Andhra Pradesh coast it extends from November to April-May and on the southeast coast of Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry, it is done throughout the year. On the west coast, it is from August to January/February in Kerala; Karnataka -September - November; Goa -September -February; Maharashtra -December and April.
Mode of exploitation
Traditional, motorised and mechanised boats are used for catching lesser sardines. Canoes and plank built boats with outboard engines are also operated. Seines (shore seines, boat seines, ring seines and purse seines), gillnets, bag nets and trawl nets are the gears commonly used for catching lesser sardines.

Food and feeding habits
Lesser sardines feed on a variety of phytoplankton and zooplankton. Phytoplanktonic organisms include Biddulphia, Coscinodiscus, Thallasiothrix, Fragilaria, Nitschia, Pleurosigma and zooplanktonic organisms include Dinophysis, Peridinium, Caratium, copepods, mysis, Lucifer, larvae of prawns and crabs, fish eggs, Acetes, fish larvae, crustacean larvae and molluscan larvae.
Spawning season
The lesser sardine species occurring along the two coasts show considerable variation in their spawning seasons. The, spawning period for individual fish is of short duration, but the species as a whole breed over a prolonged period.
Growth, maturity and spawning
The lesser sardines exhibit fast growth, short life span (2-3 years) and high natural mortality. Most of the species attain 70% of their maximum length in the first year itself.
Fecundity
Fecundity of Sardinella albello is 10,000 - 13,000 in fish of 14.6 to 15.5 cm in length; Kowala coval -about 15,000 eggs.

Marketing
They are consumed in the fresh/frozen/dried/salted-dried form. Smaller sized fishes are used for making fish meal for preparation of poultry and fish feed.
Conservation and management
Exploitation of this small pelagic fish from the coastal waters is sustainable and they are easily vulnerable to the traditional sector. As no single species is harvested continuously, there is no excess fishing pressure at present on the lesser sardines.