PRESENT STATUS OF EXPLOITATION OF FISH AND SHELLFISH RESOURCES : FLATHSHES AND FLATHEADS

The present paper deals with the fishery of flatfishes and flatheads along the west coast of India. Among flatfishes, the malabar role Cynoglossus macrostomus contributes significantly to the catch; Psettodes erumei also forms a fishery along Maharashtra and Gujarat Coasts. Among flatheads Platycephalus macuUpinna contributes to the fishery. These two resources are mainly exploited by trawl. It is found that both the species are continuous spawners, with peak sf>awning taking place during September - November period. In both the groups the one year old fish contributes to the fishery. The major peaks of fishing are either immediately after the onset of monsoon or postmonsoon months.