Coastal Aquaculture and Mariculture

Unit 7- Molluscan resources

7.3.2. Food and feeding
The cephalopods are generally carnivorous. The food mainly consists of teleost fishes, crustaceans and cephalopods. Cannibalism is common among cephalopods. Feeding intensity decreases during the spawning periods.
Lifespan
Cephalopods generally have a short life span, of less than two years.
Utilization
Most of the catch of cephalopods is utilized by the export industry and only very little is used for local consumption. They are exported as frozen or dried products (34 listed products). The cephalopods formed nearly 45% of the total quantity exported; however, the annual average is about 25%. The value of cephalopods in total marine exports has remained between 11 % and 15% without much variation. The main markets for export of Indian cephalopods are Europe, Japan and China. Maximum Cephalopods are exported to Spain (valuewise) - 34% -Rs.28783 lakhs
Management
No target fishery takes place for the cephalopods in India except along the Vizhinjam-Kanyakumari coast. Hence, it is difficult to manage cephalopod fishery. However, indiscriminate bottom trawling severely disturbs the habitat that facilitates the cephalopods to lay their egg masses. It also affects their food availability. It is necessary to close trawling during peak spawning periods and increase the cod end mesh size from 15 to 25 mm for sustainable production of cephalopods along the Indian coast.