Dynamics of Nemipterus japonicus (Bloch) stocks along the north-east coast of India

The dynamics of Nemipterus japonicus stocks along the north-east coast of India was studied using landings data from 2012-2015. Annual average landing of the northern region was 1251 t and that of the southern region was 2980 t. Growth was found to be allometric in the northern region and isometric in the southern region. Von Bertalanffy growth equation was L-t = 33.02 [1-e (-0.38) ((t + 0.0025))] in the northern region and L-t = 29.87 [1-e (-0.42(t+0.0585))] in the southern region. Natural mortality, fishing mortality and total mortality ranged from 0.92 to 1.01, 0.51 to 0.57 and 1.43 to 1.58. Exploitation ratio varied between 0.35 - 0.36 and exploitation rate between 0.27 - 0.29. Annual average stock, standing stock biomass and maximum sustainable yield were 4611 t and 10403 t, 2453 t and 5228 t and 1754 t and 4130 t for the northern and southern regions.