Commercial Fishing of Whale Sharks (Rhinodon typus Smith) in Gujarat
Commercial Fishing of Whale Sharks (Rhinodon typus Smith) in Gujarat
Date
1998
Authors
Pravin, P.
Ramesan, M.P.
Solanki, K.K.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Fishery Survey of India, Mumbai (India)
Abstract
Commercial exploitation of whale shark (Rhyncodon typus Smith) was practically non-existent a decade ago. Whale shark were captured only by a section of the fishermen community in Veraval for its liver oil which is used as a preservative for the hulls of wooden fishing boats. With the increase in the demand for whale shark's liver oil, and the export market for its fins and meat, this fish too is not being spread and is being fished ruthlessly for the past few years marking it an endangered species. Whale sharks are captured by the fishermen using mechanized crafts all along Saurashtra coast, mainly from Okha to Veraval, Gujarat, India. Whale sharks are also being captured by fishermen risking their lives using small FRP canoes with outboard engines, as the returns are quite satisfactory. The number of whale sharks landed has dwindled and the size and length of the fish landed has reduced considerably in recent years. There is no proper documentation on the yearly landings and the morphological characters and size of the fish. This has to be monitored and undertaken urgently before it is too late. This paper highlights on the fishing techniques in vogue in Gujarat for the capture of whale sharks and cautions on the massacre of these vulnerable species for conservation of the valued resource.
Description
Keywords
Commercial fishing, shark fisheries, catching method, potential yield
Citation
International Symp. on Large Marine Ecosystems : Exploration and Exploitation for Sustainable Development and Conservation of Fish Stocks, organised by Fishery Survey of India, Mumbai at Cochin, 25-27 Nov. 1998, ed.by Somvanshi,V.S. et .al 312-318