Fishery biology, demography of three spotted seahorse, Hippocampus trimaculatus inhabiting Gulf of Mannar region, Southeast coast of India.

Abstract

Seahorse populations show social, spatial patterns in the wild and coupled with its biology that renders them more vulnerable to intense fishing. Seahorses are mainly exploited through gears like shrimp trawl net, country trawl net and shore seine operation and their catch is considered as fortuitous. During the demanding period target fishing like skin diving is also done. The ecosystem of the study area is well diverged with seagrass, seaweed and coral reef, which form the suitable habitat for these unique creatures. Present study provides the base line information regarding the species abundance, catch per unit effort, occurrence of brooding males, sex ratio for the four commonly found seahorses in the Gulf of Mannar. Length – weight relationship and growth studies were restricted to the dominant species H. trimaculatus. Information provided through the research will be helpful in the conservation of this unique creature since they are considered as endangered and placed in Schedule I of the Indian Wild Life Protection Act, 1972 from July, 2001.