Recent trends in the mobulid fishery in Indian waters
2015
Mobulidae are zooplanktivorous elasmobranchs, found circumglobally in tropical, subtropical and temperate coastal
waters. It comprises of two recognized species of manta rays (Manta spp.) and nine recognized species of devil rays
(Mobula spp.). Although the reports of mobulid fishery in India were only from 1960s, however it was commercially
exploited only after 2007 for their valuable gillrakers. Mobula diabolus, M. tarpacana, M. japonica, M. kuhlii, M.
thurstoni, Manta birostris and M. alfredi are the seven species which contributes to mobulid fishery. White gilled Mobula
tarpacana is highly targeted for its high priced gill raker which fetches upto Rs. 8,000 kg-1 in dry weight. Few mobulid
species has already reached the IUCN Red List status. Thorough monitoring of mobulid fish exploitation level is essential
in India. It is necessary to ensure standardized sampling and modelling methodologies to estimate the stock position of
these fishes from Indian waters.
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