Catch composition, reproductive biology and diet of the bramble shark Echinorhinus brucus (Squaliformes: Echinorhinidae) from the south‐eastern Arabian Sea. Issue 5 (30th August 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Akhilesh, K. V.; Bineesh, K. K.; White, W. T.; Shanis, C. P. R.; Hashim, M.; Ganga, U.; Pillai, N. G. K.
• Is Part Of: Journal of fish biology. Volume 83:Issue 5(2013)
• Page Start: 1112
• Page End: 1127
• Publication Date: 2013-08-30
• Subjects: Fishes -- Periodicals; Fishes -- Great Britain -- Periodicals; 597
• DOI: 10.1111/jfb.12201
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0022-1112

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" id="jfb12201-abs-0001"> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <p id="jfb12201-para-0001">Fishery and biological data are presented for the poorly known bramble shark <italic>Echinorhinus brucus</italic> (Squaliformes: Echinorhinidae), from the deep waters of the south‐eastern Arabian Sea. A total of 5318 individuals from by‐catch landings of deep‐water bottom set longlines, gillnets and shrimp trawl fisheries operating at depths of 200–1200 m were recorded between January 2008 and December 2011 at the Kochi Fisheries Harbour (Kerala). A total of 431 individuals, from 46 to 318 cm total length (<italic>L</italic><sub>T</sub>) and 0·8 to 132 kg total mass (<italic>M</italic><sub>T</sub>), were examined to determine biological data for this species. The <italic>L</italic><sub>T</sub> at which 50% were mature (<italic>L</italic><sub>T</sub>50) for females and males was estimated at 189 and 187 cm <italic>L</italic><sub>T</sub>. Litter size ranged from 10 to 36 and size at birth was between 42 and 46 cm <italic>L</italic><sub>T</sub>. Dietary analysis of stomach contents revealed <italic>E. brucus</italic> feeds on a variety of prey including crustaceans (69% index of relative importance, <italic>I</italic><sub>RI</sub>), teleosts (25·8% <italic>I</italic><sub>RI</sub>), cephalopods (1·7% <italic>I</italic><sub>RI</sub>) and elasmobranchs (0·7% <italic>I</italic><sub>RI</sub>). This study provides the first detailed biological data for this species and also highlights the extent of the by‐catch fishery for this species in Indian waters.</p> </abstract>