Coastal Aquaculture and Mariculture

Unit 7- Molluscan resources

7.3.1. Production trend
The production of cephalopods increased all along the Indian coast during 1961-95. However, the increase was more along the west coast and in the east coast. Cephalopod production is more from the west coast than the east coast. It was 86% in the west coast and 14% in the east coast during 1991 -2000. During the same period, northwest contiributed 45%, southwest 41 % and southeast 13% to the total cephalopod landings in India. Northeast coast did not contribute remarkably.
Recent production

Mode of exploitation
Cephalopods are caught as bycatch of trawl nets along the Indian coast except along the Vizhinjam -Kanyakumari region. Target fishery for cuttlefishes takes place only along Vizhinjam-Kanyakumari region. Trawl nets operating up to 100 m depth account for 85% of the cephalopod landings. The introduction of high opening bottom trawl nets increased the cephalopod production. Other gears used for cephalopod fishing are scoop net, hooks & lines, boat seines and purse seines. Along the Vizhinjam-Kanyakumari coast, hooks & lines operated from motorized and non-motorized craft account for the entire cuttlefish catch of the region. Squids are caught in boat seines in this region.