Coastal Aquaculture and Mariculture

Unit 5- Major groups of Fisheries in India

5.3.4b. Pomfrets
Pomfrets belonging to the family, Stromateidae and Carangidae are shoaling demersal fishes. They are one of the most delicious table fish available along Indian coast. of export quality and command high unit value. This fishery is primarily composed of three species such as Black pomfret (Parastromateus niger), Silver pomfret (Pampus argenteus) and Chinese pomfret (Pampus chinensis). They are found on the continental shelf at all depths, generally upto 100 fathoms. Like any other groups of coastal fishes, pomfrets often enter the estuaries and brackishwater zones.
Distribution
Global
It is distributed in the Indo-west Pacific region, Persian Gulf, Pakistan, Malay Archipelago, Hongkong, China, Phillippines and Indonesia.
India
Though they are distributed along both the east and west coasts, they are found to be abundant in Gujarat and Maharastra. Silver pomfret and Black pomfret are dominant in Maharashtra and Gujarat, Orissa and Andhra Pradesh. Chinese pomfret supports a minor fishery and the maximum production is mainly from Karnataka.
Production trend
Its production ranged from 13,600 t during 1951-55 to 41,000 t during 1996-99 with a peak 47,200 t during 1981-85. The contribution of pomfrets fishery to total marine landings in India however, showed fluctuating trend ranging between 1.7% in 1996-99 to 3.1% during 1981-85 period. Maharashtra with an average catch of 11,958 t (31.2 %) contributed to the maximum of pomfret landings in India during the period 1985-95. Gujarat accounted for the next higher landings (25.6%) followed by Orissa (11%), Andhra Pradesh (8.6%), West Bengal (6.1%), Kerala (5.31%) and Tamil Nadu (4%). Mahanadi River estuary and Sandhead region of are productive fishing grounds for pomfrets.
Recent produetion

Mode of exploitation
Gill net, trawl and dol net are commonly used for catching pomfrets.
Fishing Season:
It is generally from September to May
Pam pus argenteus
Food and feeding
Young ones of P. argenteus feed on copepods ostracods, amphipods, larval stages of squilla and Lucifer and filamentous algae mainly Trichodesmium spp. Adult P. argeneus feed on crustaceans such as copepods (Oithona spp., Euterpina spp., and Eucalanus spp.), copepod nauplii, ostracods, amphipods, lucifer and zoea larvae. They feed on larger crustaceans, polychaetes, larval decapods, forarniniferans, Sagitta spp. The species has different feeding habits at different depths.
Size at first maturity
The size at maturity of the species is 150 mm (Standard Length) for males and 170 mm for females.
Spawning season
The species has a prolonged spawning period extending from February to August with two peaks during February to April and during June to August.
Fecundity
The fecundity ranges from 40,610 to 90,640 eggs in fishes of 191 - 238 mm.
Pampus chinensis
Food and feeding
They feed on zooplankton (copepods, jellyfishes and decapods) with less preference to phytoplankton. Unlike other pomfrets, these pomfrets do not change the larval habitat and remains surface feeder throughout its life.
Parastromateus niger
Food and feeding
P. niger is a carnivore mainly feeding on zooplankon (Thaliaceans, prawns), fish scales, crustacean larvae, amphipods, cuttlefish, polychaetes and medusa of jelly fish.
Size at first maturity
Size at maturity for females is 32 cm and 30 cm for males.
Spawning season
It extends from July to October with peak during August/September off Saurashtra coast.
Utilization
Pomfrets in fresh condition are in good demand. They are filleted and frozen for export. Sometimes, they are brined and sundried. Pomfret stands next to ribbonfish (i.e. second position) in the export of frozenfish in both quantity and value -6% (8685.9 tonnes) and 28% (Rs. 177.7 crores) respectively.
Conservation and management
This endearing resource caught in trawl, gill net and dol net is under threat of overexploitation and hence warrants measures of conservation. Due to overfishing, depletion in catches is recorded. Hence, regulaltion in mesh size is necessary to preserve the pomfret stock.