International Journal of Agriculture Extension and Social Development

author(s)
Kalavathi NR, HN Anjanayappa, AS Kumar Naik, Mahesh V and Harish

abstract
Between January 2020 and December 2021, the average exploited fisheries resources in the Chandragiri estuary was 87.98t. Finfish accounted for 67.3% of total landings, followed by molluscs (19.5%), and crustaceans (13.2%). The exploited fishery included 97 finfish species from 38 families, 7 penaeid shrimp species, 1 palaemonid prawn species, 6 crab species, and 6 bivalve species. Gelonia bengalensi ( 16.685 t), Lutjanus argentimaculatus (4.435 t), Etroplus suratensis(4.256 t), Acanthopagrus berda (3.841 t), Epinephelus coioides (3.221t), Sillago sihama (2.751 t), Portunus pelagicus (2.739 t), Gerres filamentosus (2.478 t), Caranx heberi (2.428 t) and Lates calcarifer formed the bulk of landings accounted for 52% of the total catch. The highest landings were recorded in January (8.988 t), December (8.151t), and March (8.151t). June had the lowest production (6.067 t), followed by July (6.244 t) and August (6.264 t). The seasonal mean fish catch was highest during the post-monsoon (35.60%), followed by the pre-monsoon (35.43%), and the lowest during the monsoon (28.97%). Finfish landings were highest during the monsoon season (21.385 t), followed by the post-monsoon season (20.394 t), and the lowest during the pre-monsoon season (17.433 t). In the case of shellfish, the pre-monsoon period had the highest landings (13.737 t), followed by the post-monsoon period (10.922 t), and the monsoon season had the lowest landings (4.108 t). From monsoon to post-monsoon, fish productivity in the estuary increased steadily, with the bulk of species supporting lucrative fisheries in the estuary peaking during high-saline months.