Stock assessment of oil sardine, Sardinella longiceps Val., off west coast of India

Abstract

The oil sardine contributes nearly 15% of the total annual marine fish landings of the country and forms the most important pelagic fishery resource. A brief account of the fishery. biology and stock position of the oil sardine based on the data collected from several centres along the west coast of India during 1984-88 is given. The growth parameters were estimated by employing the ELEFAN-I method and the values obtained for L. and K were 221 mm and 0.75 respectively. The instantaneous total mortality rate (Z) was estimated as 2.23 and the instantaneous natural mortality rate (M) as 1.30. The maximum sustainable yield (MSy) was estimated as 150000 tonnes against a mean biomass of 107 000 tonnes.