Sciaenid fishery of the Uttara Kannada Coast, Karnataka

The sciaenids sustain one of the major demersal fisheries of Uttar Kannada District. They, locally known as "Dhodi", comprise seven genera and twelve species, of which Johnius belangerii is the most dominant. The sciaenid landings along the Uttar Kannada Coast fromed 0.02 to 4.87% of the total fish catch during the last decade. During 1980-81 it formed 4.13% of the total catch. The highest landings were recorded in 1983-84 when 2665.8 tonnes of fish valued at Rs.8,060,600 were caught. The catch declined to 1416.7 tonnes (value Rs. 2,122,100) during 1980-81. The commercial fishery consists of 0 and 1 year old fish. Local marketing and upghat transportation and marketing of sciaenid are two important ways of disposal of the catch. Curing is the most traditional way adopted to preserve sciaenids during periods of abundance.