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Detailed Ecological Assessment Report 2008 – Keti Bunder
Elasmobranches are quite diverse and abundant there are number of pelagic and
demersal species that often are caught and sometime form abundant part of the
commercial catches. Saw sharks (Pristophoridae) are rare and often caught in
deeper parts of Arabian Sea. Hammer headed sharks ( Sphyrna sp ) once very
common are rare in catches. Saw-fish (Pristidae) are seen in trawl catches. Several
species of Rajidae occur through out the Arabian Sea, Rhinobatidae, Torpedinae,
Rajinae and Dasyatinae commonly occur in estuaries and shallow open seas. There
is no specific fishery but these species are often caught in trawl net and because of
low fecundity are especially sensitive to fishing pressure (Anon, 2006 b). Since the
study of Qureshi, 1972 no other studies have appeared in the literature. There are
some published lists of Elasmobranches species given as check list of Marine fishes
of West Pakistan (Jaleel and Khalil Uddin, 1972).
Dominant pelagic communities are the fishes of Clupeiformes. These are not only in
pelagic ecosystem but also in the benthic-demersal ecosystem. Several species
dominant in occurrence in the region belong to genera Ilisha, Pellona, Pellonula,
Opisthonema, Opisthopterus and Sardinella (Qureshi, 1955). All Clupeiformes fishes
are separated as Clupeoides, Shads, Sardinella Thryssa, Chirocentrus and
Megalops. The abundant species is Sardinella longiceps its catches have declined
from 45 thousand metric tons in 1995 to 21,000 metric tons in 2003. The other
abundant species is Thryssa sp its catches were 17,000 metric tons in 1995 and
have declined to 10,000 metric tons. Other species caught show low catches but the
decline in their catches from 1995 to 2003 is very distinct (Anon, 2006 b). Mostly
these species constitute major part of trash fisheries that is used for poultry feed or in
fertilizers industry.
Among the marine catfishes Ariidae, Tachysuridae occur inshore and in estuarine
areas. Arius, Bagre and Trachysurus dominate this group (Qureshi, 1955). Some
larges Size of catfish Ariidae were observed during November surveys in catch from
Keti Bunder. Among the fishes of Scorpaeniformes Trigla, Lepidotrigla, Prionotus
and Platycephalus are found abundant in the coastal areas, estuaries and along the
continental shelf.. (Qureshi, 1955; 1970). Three families Synodontidae,
Harpodontidae and Chlorophthalmidae of Myctophiformes are abundant along the
continental shelf areas (Qureshi, 1955; 1970). Perciformes is the largest group of
fishes that dominate the demersal fish fauna of coast, estuaries, mangrove swamps
and continental shelf of the tropical sea. Along the coast of Pakistan three groups of
the Perciformes can be separated into species associated with inshore muddy areas,
of sandy bottoms like that of continental shelf and those that inhabit rocky areas.
Drums and croakers (Sciaenids, Pseudotolithus) dominate demersal fish fauna. On
muddy grounds and in the creeks (Hussain, 1973). In associations with Sciaenids
are the threadfin fishes Polynemidae, Mugillidae and Ehippidae (Spade fishes)
(Qureshi, 1960a. and b. 1969; Husain, 1973). Wide variety of Perciform families
occur on sandy grounds are Sparidae, Nemptridae, Poasyidae, Mullidae, Gerridae
and Leiognathids. Epinephelus, Serranus, Lutjanus, Lethrinus etc are the dwellers of
rocky grounds in estuaries and offshore waters (Hussain, 1973). Generally Groupers
and snappers dominate in trawl catches and long line fishing operations (Qureshi,
1955; Hassan, and Qureshi, 1969). The other important commercial group of fishes
belongs to Perciformes which is represented by more than 100 species in catches.
Species of Epinephelus, Posys, Lutjanus, Lethrinus, Pampus, Carangoides, and
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