Coastal Aquaculture and Mariculture

5.3.4a. Lizard fishes and Pomfrets

Unit 5- Major groups of Fisheries in India

5.3.4a. Lizard fishes
Lizard fishes
Lizardfishes belonging to the family Synodontidae are demersal fishes. They do not form an independent fishery and are caught in small quantities, forming a supporting fishery to the other major fisheries. This group is an important by catch in shrimp trawlers in tropical and subtropical seas. Though considered as a supporting fishery, this group assumes significance by virtue of the high nutritive value and their acceptance as food both in the fresh and dry condition.
Distribution
Global
They are found distributed from the Red sea to the Malay Archipelago, China and Japan.
India
They are available in both east and west coasts. However, they are highly abundant in Kerala.
Production trend
The contribution of lizard fishes ranged between 0.1 % (500 t) during 1956 - 60 to 1.3% (29,600 t) during 1991-95. Kerala with an average landing of contributed to the maximum of 43.4% to the total lizardfish landings, followed by Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Kamataka, Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh.
Recent production

Species composition
Lizardfish fishery is represented by species such as the greater lizardfish, Saurida tumbil, brush toothed lizardfish, S. undosquamis; blunt nose lizardfish, Trachinocephalus myops and engleman's lizardfish, Synodus englemani along the west coast of India. Other species such as Saurida longimanus (longfin lizardfish) and S. micropectoralis (shortfm lizardfish) also contribute to the fishery aong the east coast.
Mode of exploitation
Lizard fishes are reported as an important bycatch of shrimp trawlers. It constitutes about 3 - 4% of bycatch of shrimp trawlers.
Food and feeding
The juveniles of S. tumbil feed chiefly on crustaceans (Lucifer, Acetes, Mysis) and fishes (Stolephorus spp., Gazza spp. and Clupeids). The adults feed mainly on prawns (Penaeus spp.,) and on larvae and adults of teleost fishes such as Stolephorus spp., Engraulis spp., Trichiurus spp., and Leiognathus spp. They feed on small amount of copepods, cirripid larvae, larval decapods and Sagitta spp also.
Size at maturity
Saurida tumbil matures at about 230 - 270 mm and Saurida undosquamis at 170 - 210 mm depending on region.
Spawning season
For Saurida tumbil, it is from Sep -March along Northwest coast and Aug -Nov in Cochin. For Saurida undosquamis, it is from Oct -March (Peak: Nov -Dec).
Age and growth
Maximum size ranges from 25 cm (Saurida longimanus) to 67 cm (S. tumbil).
Fecundity
Fecundity ranges from 40,000 to 2, 15,000 for Saurida tumbil and 16,000 -1, 90,000 for Saurida undosquamis.
Utilization
Large sized fishes of above 20 cm are used for human consumption, while smaller ones are used as animal feeds and fertilizers. Of the species used for human consumption, S. tumbil has better acceptance when supplied in fresh condition. Lizardfishes are used for the preparation of Surimi and Satai (in Thailand) and fish sauce. Dried air bladder is also used for preparation offish maws (isinglass).
Conservation and management
Various maritime states have imposed a ban on trawling (closed season) to protect the spawning and juvenile population.