Biological aspects of sea snakes caught incidentally by commercial trawlers off Goa, west coast of India

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Published: Dec 26, 2009
DOI: https://doi.org/10.11609/JoTT.o2253.609-16

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V.P. Padate
L.V. Baragi
C.U. Rivonker

Abstract

Sea snakes occur in trawl hauls as by-catch, incurring mortality in populations inhabiting commercial fishing grounds (< 20 m depth) along the coastal inshore waters of Goa. Observations of this incidental catch show that true sea snakes inhabiting inshore waters comprise two species: Enhydrina schistosa and Lapemis curtus, contributing 65 and 35 % of the population respectively. 70 trawl operations over a period of 17 months with a total fishing effort of 110 hours yielded 43 individuals, all females, which numerically contributed ~ 1 % to the total trawl catch. Seasonal variations indicate that there is an increasing trend in abundance from post-monsoon to pre-monsoon season. The capture of a gravid female from the estuarine inshore waters during January suggests parturition and recruitment among sea snakes during the post-monsoon season. An assessment of the food composition in the stomach content revealed completely digested prey in smaller individuals, whereas in larger-sized individuals these items were either undigested or semi-digested. Qualitative assessment of gut content of sea snakes revealed the dominance of finfish (Ariidae, Engraulidae, Clupeidae). A biological assessment of a gravid female and the association of sea snakes with a barnacle species (Octolasmis grayii) are described.

Article Details

Issue
Vol 1, No 12 (2009)
Section
Communications

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Author Biographies

V.P. Padate

Vinay P. Padate obtained his MSc degree in Marine Sciences from Goa University in 2005 and is currently working as Research Assistant at the Department of Marine Sciences, Goa University. He is engaged in studying taxonomy and community structure of demersal marine fauna along the coasts of Goa and Visakhapatnam, India.

L.V. Baragi

Lalita V. Baragi obtained her MSc degree in Marine Sciences from Goa University in 2008 and is currently working as Project Assistant at the Marine Corrosion and Materials Research Division, National Institute of Oceanography, Dona Paula, Goa. She is engaged in studying bio-fouling organisms, particularly barnacles.

C.U. Rivonker

Dr. Chandrashekher U. Rivonker obtained PhD in Marine Sciences in 1992 from Goa University and has about 22 publications in referred journals. Presently Associate Professor, he is working in the area of Demersal fish diversity.