Trichiurus Lepturus Research Articles

아산만 연안에서 소형 저인망에 어획되는 어류의 종조성 및 계절 변동

Seasonal fluctuations in the abundance and species composition of fishes in coastal waters off Asan bay were investigated from April, 2012 to January, 2013. A total of 3,057 fishes were sampled and classified into 71 species, 35 families, and 11 orders. Of the 11 orders, Perciformes, Scorpaeniformes, and Pleuronectiformes accounted for approximately 61.97% of the fishes in this area. Of 71 species identified, Engraulis japonicus, Leiognathus nuchalis, Trichiurus japonicus, Pholis fangi, and Konosirus punctatus accounted for 36.57% of collected fishes. The highest number of individuals was found in July, while the lowest in January. The richness index was highest in July (RI=7.103) and the lowest in January(RI=4.708). The eveness index was the highest in July(E=0.912) and the lowest in October(E=0.766). The diversity index was the highest in July(H’=1.429) and the lowest in October(H’=2.862).

Assessment of heavy metals contamination in selected tropical marine fish species in Bangladesh and their impact on human health

•Chemical pollution in marine ecosystems is leading towards an increase in the concentrations of heavy metals in fish body, which might have a negative impact on human health through consumption of fish. Here, five commercially important marine fishes (i.e. Sillaginopsis panijus, Trichiurus lepturus, Harpadon nehereus, Rita rita and Coilia dussumieri) were collected from the Kutubdia Channel of the northern Bay of Bengal, Bangladesh. Samples were collected during pre-monsoon and post-monsoon for the year of 2016 to measure the heavy metal concentrations in edible part (flesh) of the fishes; and finally to assess the human health risk due to consumption of those fishes. Heavy metal concentrations (i.e. Cr, Cu, Pb, Mn, Sn and As) in the collected fish species were determined using energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence (EDXRF) method. Subsequently, for assessing the human health risk, the target hazard quotient (THQ) values were estimated. This study found that the heavy metal concentration for Cr, Cu, Pb, Mn, Sn and As in fish samples were 1.51 to 2.53, 2.14 to 5.08, 2.89 to 3.41, 14.54 to 18.45, 23.04 to 32.21 and < 0.41 mg/kg respectively as dry weight basis. This study also revealed that the THQ values for all studied metals in five species of fishes for both seasons were < 1, which indicating no cancer risk due to consumption of those fishes. On the other hand, the target cancer risk for Pb was found within an acceptable level (10−4 to 10-6). Therefore, it has been suggested that the selected tropical marine fishes might be free from contamination and human might be in safe from any risk due to consumption of those fishes.

The complete mitochondrial genome of cutlassfish (Trichiurus japonicus) from South China Sea

Trichiurus japonicus is one of Trichiuridae and widely distributed in the North Pacific Ocean. In this study, we described the complete mitochondrial genome of Trichiurus japonicus. The genome is 16797 bp in length, encoding the standard set of 13 protein-coding genes, 21 transfer RNA genes, two ribosomal RNA genes, and a non-coding D-loop, with circular organization. The overall base composition of the whole mitochondrial genome was A (28.7%), T (25.83%), G (16.2%), and C (29.27%) with an AT bias of 54.53%. The longest protein-coding gene of these species was ND5, whereas the shortest ATP8.

The complete mitochondrial genome and phylogenetic relationship of Trichiurus sp. from Jiangsu

Trichiurus is one of the most important economic fishes around the world. In the present study, we determined the complete mitochondrial genome of Trichiurus sp. from Jiangsu is a circular-molecule of 16,662 bp in length, which encodes 35 genes in all. These genes comprise 13 protein-coding genes, 20 transfer RNA genes, and two ribosomal RNA genes, with gene arrangement and content basically identical to those of other species of Trichiuridae. The result of phylogenetic analysis strongly supported that Trichiurus sp. should be Trichiurus japonicus.

Eating trash: ingestion of anthropogenic fragments by fish and crabs in Brazilian waters

Eating trash: ingestion of anthropogenic fragments by fish and crabs in Brazilian waters

Comparison of the Changes in Fatty Acids and Triacylglycerols between &lt;i&gt;Decapterus maruadsi&lt;/i&gt; and &lt;i&gt;Trichiurus lepturus&lt;/i&gt; during Salt-dried Process

In order to reveal changes in fatty acids and triglycerides during the pickling process of white-fleshed and dark-fleshed fish with high-fat, to compare the changes of triacylglycerols (TAGs) and fatty acids (FAs) in round scad (Decapterus maruadsi, dark-fleshed) and hairtail (Trichiurus lepturus, white-fleshed) during salt-dried processing, ESI-MS/MS and GC-MS techniques were used to quantify. Lipid oxidation was evaluated via peroxide values (POVs), and thiobarbituric reactive substances (TBARS). A total of 31 and 27 FAs, 45 and 44 TAGs were quantified in round scad and hairtail, respectively. DHA (C22:6n3), palmitic acid (C16:0), stearic acid (C18:0), and oleic acid (C18:1n9) were the main FAs in round scad. POO (16:0/18:1/18:1), PPO (16:0/16:0/18:1), POD (16:0/18:1/22:6), and PPaO (16:0/16:1/18:1) were dominant TAGs in both species. Salt-dried processing significantly affected (p < 0.001) 7/5 FAs and 24/29 TAGs in round scad/hairtail. MUFAs changed significantly (p < 0.05) in dark-fleshed round scad; only SFAs and PUFAs changed in white-fleshed hairtail. Both species exhibited near-identical TAG compositions with different variation trends. More significant changes were observed in FAs at the half-dried stages and in TAGs (p < 0.05) at the salted stage. This coincided with the changing stages of POV and TBARS values that also increased significantly (p < 0.05) at the salted stages but peaked at the half-dried stages of both species.

Influence of composition, temperature, and frequency on dielectric properties of selected saltwater and freshwater fish

ABSTRACT Dielectric heating has been applied in the fishing industry for thawing and cooking. However, the difference in dielectric properties for various species of fish can greatly influence the heating rate and uniformity. In this study, the dielectric properties of saltwater fish [Pomfret (Pampus argenteus) and Hairtail (Trichiurus lepturus)] and freshwater fish [Bream (Parabramis pekinensis) and Crucian Carp (carassius auratus)] were determined within the frequency range of 1–2500 MHz at –20°C to 100°C. Results showed that the dielectric constant () and dielectric loss factor () of the four different species decrease with increasing frequency. The dielectric constants at 27.12 and 40.68 MHz increase with increasing temperature, and those at 915 and 2450 MHz increase rapidly and then decrease. The of Hairtail showed the highest increase, followed by Bream, Crucian Carp, and Pomfret; and the of Hairtail showed the highest increase, followed by Pomfret, Bream, and Crucian Carp due to the composition difference between the species. Thus, the dielectric heating process for various species of fish can be considerably different at different frequencies. Furthermore, the most significant difference in dielectric properties among all species of fish was observed at 27.12 MHz, which indicated that this frequency could be the most suitable frequency for the detection of fish species based on their dielectric properties.

Complete mitogenome of the cutlassfish Trichiurus haumela (Scombriformes: Trichiuridae) from Ningde, Fujian province, Southeast China

The cutlassfish, Trichiurus haumela (Scombriformes: Trichiuridae), is well adapted to benthopelagic life with high commercial value in the world. In this study, mitogenome of this species was assembled with high coverage using Illumina sequencing data and the 16,855 bp length was acquired. The base composition is 28.75% for A, 29.33% for C, 16.14% for G, and 25.78% for T. The mitogenome includes 13 protein-coding genes, 21 transfer RNA, and two ribosomal RNA genes. The phylogeny showed that it is closely related to Trichiurus japonicus with high bootstrap value supported. The complete mitogenome of T. haumela can provide essential DNA molecular data for further phylogenetic and evolutionary analysis.

Length-weight relationship for four fish species from the Oman Sea, Iran

The present study reports length-weight relationship (LWR) of four fish species viz. Pennahia macrophtalmus, Epinephelus bleekeri, Acropoma joponicum and Trichiurus lepturus from the Oman Sea, Iran. A total of 880 specimens were collected from December 2016 to August 2017 by trawling. The LWR parameter b for the studied species was 2.68 to 3.07.

Estimating biological reference points for Largehead hairtail (Trichiurus lepturus) fishery in the Yellow Sea and Bohai Sea

It is important to find a reliable method to estimate maximum sustainable yield (MSY) or total allowable catch (TAC) for fishery management, especially when the data availability is limited which is a case in China. A recently developed method (CMSY) is a data-poor method, which requires only catch data, resilience and exploitation history at the first and final years of the catch data. CMSY was used in this study to estimate the biological reference points for Largehead hairtail (Trichiurus lepturus, Temminck and Schlegel) in the Yellow Sea and Bohai Sea, based on the fishery data from China Fishery Statistical Year Books during 1986 to 2012. Additionally, Bayesian state-space Schaefer surplus production model (BSM) and the classical surplus production models (Schaefer and Fox) performed by software CEDA and ASPIC, were also projected in this study to compare with the performance of CMSY. The estimated MSYs from all models are about 19.7×104–27.0×104 t, while CMSY and BSM yielded more reasonable population parameter estimates (the intrinsic population growth rate and the carrying capacity). The biological reference points of B/BMSY smaller than 1.0, while F/FMSY higher than 1.0 revealed an over-exploitation of the fishery, indicating that more conservative management strategies are required for Largehead hairtail fishery.

Spatiotemporal distribution of fish eggs and larvae in the Huanghe (Yellow) River estuary, China in 2005–2016

Decreasing fish resources in estuaries is a subject of anthropogenic activities. Studies of the spatiotemporal distribution of fish eggs and larvae can help identify the status and processes underlying recruitment in a fishery. As the fifth largest river estuary in the world, the Huanghe (Yellow) River estuary (HRE) is a typical estuary that has been seriously affected by human activities. Annual surveys on ichthyoplankton and environmental factors were conducted in the months of May of 2005 and 2009–2016 in the HRE to investigate the spatiotemporal distribution of fish eggs and larvae and the associated influencing factors. A total of 23 and 20 species of eggs and larvae, respectively, were collected. The dominant orders were Perciformes (51.2%) and Clupeiformes (25.6%). The average number of fish species eggs and larvae were 6.0 and 4.1 in average abundance of 0.91 and 0.13 ind./m3, respectively. The dominant species were mainly low-commercial-value small-sized fishes, such as Clupanodon punctatus, Harengula zunasi, and Acanthogobius, whereas certain traditional commercial fishes, such as Trichiurus lepturus, and Clupea pallasii, were not seen. Analysis of the fish egg and larval community revealed four temporal assemblages and two spatial assemblages. Salinity was the main factor on the spatial distribution of ichthyoplankton communities, the species number and Shannon-Weiner diversity index (H′) of the fish egg and larval community near the river mouth with lower salinity were significantly lower than the community far away from the river mouth with higher salinity. In addition, increases of water temperature promoted the number and abundance of fish species eggs, and the areas of abundant prey tended to have a more diversified and abundant of ichthyoplankton species. In overall, overfishing, dam construction, and other human activities were the main drivers that led to the substantial decline in fishery resources in the HRE.

Codend selectivity in the East China Sea of a trawl net with the legal minimum mesh size

Selectivity curves were obtained for 22 species of fish and squid from stock assessment research data for the East China Sea between 2001 and 2011, conducted using a cover net attached to the codend of a trawl net (Seikai National Fisheries Research Institute SS-RI-type trawl net). The trawl net codend was made of diamond mesh net with a legal minimum mesh opening size of 54 mm (mesh length of 66 mm). A cover net with a mesh opening of 18 mm (or 10.3 mm depending on the research year) was attached to the codend. For each of the 20 fish species and two squid species, we pooled data of hauls where body size for the whole catch was measured without subsampling to obtain the body size compositions of fish caught in both the codend and the cover net. The maximum likelihood method was performed for estimation of parameters in the logistic curve equation representing the codend selection curve. For 18 fish species (excluding Trichiurus japonicus and Muraenesox cinereus), we examined the relationship of the obtained selection parameters [length at 50% retention (l50) and selection range (SR) (= l75–l25)] to fish body shape. We demonstrated that, in fish species with a smaller ratio of body height/width to body size (i.e., more slender body type), there was a tendency for larger l50 and SR. Furthermore, by comparing the l50 of each fish species with reproductive parameters such as minimum length at maturity, we examined the sustainability of the resources based on the minimum mesh size regulation.

A study of fractal dimension as a quality indicator of hairtail (Trichiurus haumela) samples during frozen storage

Hairtail fish samples were stored at different freezing temperatures of −5 °C, −20 °C, −40 °C and −80 °C. To establish an effective quality evaluation approach for hairtail samples during frozen storage, fractal dimension was used to observe the porous microstructure that resulted from the ice crystal formation in frozen hairtail meat. The results showed that the initial value of fractal dimension of all the samples was 1.968. After frozen storage, the fractal dimension of samples at −5 °C, −20 °C, −40 °C and −80 °C decreased to 1.539, 1.682, 1.856 and 1.896, respectively. Traditional quality indicators such as water activity, color and textural properties (i.e., hardness, springiness and chewiness) also exhibited a similar decreasing trend, and the rate of change decreased with a decrease in storage temperature. The relationships were analyzed, and these traditional quality indicators were correlated with the fractal dimension with determined correlation coefficients within ±0.900. Moreover, based on the fractal dimension model, the first-order kinetic equation of fractal dimension variation during storage was {{bf{d}}}_{{bf{t}}}={bf{1.968}},{{bf{e}}}^{{boldsymbol{-}}{bf{0.928}}{bf{t}}{{bf{e}}}^{{boldsymbol{-}}{bf{1431.396}}/{bf{T}}}}, which can be used to predict the shelf life of preserved hairtails at different storage temperatures. The results demonstrated fractal dimension was a novel and feasible method to evaluate the quality of hairtails in frozen storage.

Bycatch composition of cutlassfish trawlers during fishing season in Bushehr and Hormozgan, Persian Gulf, Iran

Fouladi Sabet A, Paighambari SY, Pouladi M, Raeisi H, Abbaspour Naderi R. 2018. Bycatch composition of cutlassfish trawlers during fishing season in Bushehr and Hormozgan, Persian Gulf, Iran. Biodiversitas 19: 2275-2282. This investigation was conducted to determine the bycatch composition of cutlassfish (Trichiurus lepturus) trawlers in Bushehr and Hormozgan waters during fishing season 2013. Data collection was carried out in the summer for Bushehr and in the autumn for Hormozgan province for one month. All trawler vessels were equipped with a 36 m head rope and 75 mm stretched mesh size in the codend and 90 to 200 mm stretched mesh size in the panel. 47 species included 35 species of teleosts, 9 species of elasmobranches and 3 species of invertebrates were identified in Bushehr. Also, 48 species included 38 species of teleosts, 7 species of elasmobranches and 3 species of invertebrates were identified in Hormozgan. The weight and numerical averages of bycatch species were 25.41 (kg h-1) and 205.9 (n h-1) in Bushehr, and 92.58 (kg h-1) and 440.4 (n h-1) in Hormozagan. I. megaloptera, S. tumbil, N. japonicus, D. acuta, C. sexfasciatus, L. equulus in Bushehr and P. sextarius, I. megalopteran, M. cinereus, P. macrophthalmus, N. japonicus and S. tumbil in Hormozgan had highest catch weight. Based on the weight and number, PCA and nMDS methods were indicative of two different assemblages in hunting places. Furthermore, ANOSIM similarity analysis confirmed the results of PCA and nMDS and showed a significant difference in the catch composition of two fishing zones.

Bycatch of the Isla del Rosario (Gulf of Salamanca, Colombian Caribbean) artisanal shrimp fishery in an approximation to the biodiversity impact

In the period March 2009-February 2010 the fish bycatch of the artisanal shrimp fishery operating off the beach of Isla del Rosario (Gulf of Salamanca, Colombian Caribbean) was evaluated and length-frequency data analysis were done for five of the main ichthyic species. For this purpose, data registered in the project “Pesca artesanal del Magdalena”, processed in the Fisheries Information System of Invemar (SIPEIN) to obtain fishery variables, on a monthly basis, was used. Between shrimp and fish fauna 38,265 kg were registered. The ichthyic bycatch fauna was composed of 59 fish species, distributed in 23 families, being Engraulidae, Sciaenidae, and Mugilidae the most representative. Regarding the engraulid Cetengraulis edentulus biomass, it was the most important species. Ichthyic bycatch to shrimp relationship was 1.2:1.0 with shrimp beach seine. During the assessed year, the highest mean Landing Per Unit Effort (LPUE) was present in the dry season, but November (rainy season) was the month with the highest shrimp LPUE. The indicators, Lc (mean length) and spawning/juvenile proportion, evidence growth overfishing for the species Bairdiella ronchus , Cathorops mapale , Mugil incilis and Trichiurus lepturus . The state of this fishery and the impact it generates on the ecosystem is discussed. Measures for its proper management are recommended.

Genomics-guided discovery and structure identification of cyclic lipopeptides from the Bacillus siamensis JFL15.

In this research, a strain with broad-spectrum antimicrobial activities was isolated from the gastrointestinal tract of hairtail (Trichiurus haumela) and identified as Bacillus siamensis JFL15 through morphological, 16S rRNA, and average nucleotide identity analyses. The genome of B. siamensis JFL15 was sequenced, and three gene clusters involved in the biosynthesis of surfactin (srf), bacillibactin (dhb), and fengycin (fen) were predicted through antiSMASH analysis. The combined genomics-metabolics profiling of the strain revealed 20 active compounds, which belong to four main types of cyclic lipopeptides produced by Bacillus species: bacillibactin, iturin, fengycin, and surfactin. Among these lipopeptides, two high-purity antifungal components, namely, components b and c, were successfully identified as iturin A and bacillomycin F. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of iturin A for Magnapothe grisea, Rhizoctorzia solani, and Colletotrichum gloeosporioides were 125.00, 62.50, and 125.00 μg/ml, respectively, whereas the MICs of bacillomycin F for these three organisms were 62.50, 31.25, and 62.50 μg/ml, respectively. The mechanism of bacillomycin F and iturin A against M. grisea was also investigated. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) indicated that the surface of the hypha treated with iturin A or bacillomycin F became sunk, lumpy, and wrinkled. The diversity of the identified and predicted compounds from B. siamensis JFL15 suggested that this strain might be a promising biocontrol agent for an effective and environmentally friendly control of pathogenic microorganisms. To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first to describe cyclic lipopeptides purified and identified from B. siamensis.

BIODIVERSIDADE DA ICTIOFAUNA NOS CURRAIS DE PESCA NO LITORAL DE ACARAÚ, CEARÁ, BRASIL

Esta pesquisa objetivou caracterizar a ictiofauna capturada pelos currais de pesca na Praia de Ilha dos Coqueiros, Acaraú-CE, Brasil, verificar a diversidade, riqueza, equabilidade e abundância das espécies, para conhecer a potencialidade desta arte de pesca para a obtenção do peixes vivos para uso demonstrativo e de educação ambiental em aquários públicos. Foram realizadas 26 coletas entre outubro de 2013 e outubro de 2014. Foram contabilizados e identificados 1449 peixes capturados em currais de pesca. Os obtidos dados foram utilizados para calcular os índices de diversidade de Shannon-Weaver, Simpson e Berger-Parker, equabilidade de Pielou e riqueza de Margalef. A partir da identificação das espécies foi avaliada a potencialidade para a obtenção de peixes para uso em aquários públicos. Foram capturadas duas classes, 10 ordens, 34 famílias e 60 espécies. As famílias com maior diversidade foram: Carangidae, Haemulidae e Lutjanidae. As espécies com maior frequência em ordem decrescente foram: Haemulon plumierii, Carangoides bartholomaei, Hyporhamphus unifasciatus, Trichiurus lepturus e Diapterus auratus. Todos os índices avaliados mostraram elevada biodiversidade de peixes capturados nos currais de pesca estudados. Várias espécies capturadas são relatadas como utilizadas em aquários públicos, assim esta arte de pesca pode ser usada na obtenção de peixes para este fim.

Heavy Metal Concentration in Largehead Hairtail (Trichiurus lepturus Linneaus, 1758) and Savalai Hairtail (Lepturacanthus savala (Cuvier, 1829)) Obtained from Karachi Fish Harbour, Pakistan.

In this study, muscle samples gathered from Largehead hairtail (Trichiurus lepturus Linneaus, 1758) and Savali hairtail [Lepturacanthus savala (Cuvier, 1829)] from the Karachi Fish Harbour, Pakistan were analyzed to determine heavy metal concentrations (iron [Fe], zinc [Zn], copper [Cu], manganese [Mn], lead [Pb] and cadmium [Cd]) between January and December 2016. All samples were analyzed using the AAnalyst 700 Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer. It was observed that the average measured level of Fe, Zn, Cu, Mn, Pb and Cd in muscle were 77.72 ± 47.84µg/g, 20.34 ± 8.49µg/g, 2.23 ± 1.16µg/g, 0.57 ± 0.36µg/g, 0.20 ± 0.16µg/g and 0.42 ± 0.19µg/g for T. lepturus, respectively. Besides, the average level of the same metal concentrations in muscle for L. savala were 85.11 ± 57.64µg/g, 16.63 ± 9.25µg/g, 2.53 ± 1.90µg/g, 0.47 ± 0.27µg/g, 0.23 ± 0.18µg/g and 0.47 ± 0.20µg/g, respectively. The correlation between size groups and metal accumulation in muscle tissues were investigated for both fish. In terms of public risk assessment, the provisional tolerable weekly intake's of various heavy metals were compared with the consumption of both fish. As a result of the analysis, Fe, Zn, Cu, Mn, Pb and Cd accumulations in muscle tissues of T. lepturus and L. savala collected from Karachi Fish Harbour Pakistan did not exceed limit values.

Concentration of heavy metals in edible fishes from Atlantic Coast of Muanda, Democratic Republic of the Congo

The present study aims to determine the levels of heavy metals in edible nine different commonly consumed fish species (Pseudotolithus elongatus, Pseudotolithus senegalensis, Cynoglossus senegalensis, Trichiurus lepturus, Galeoides decadactylus, Pentanemus quinquarius, Chrysichthys nigrodigitatus, Mugil curema, and Arius latiscutatus). Fishes were collected during August 2016 from five sites of West Atlantic Ocean Coast of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Heavy metals (Cr, Cu, Zn, Ni, Sb, Cd, Pb, and Se) levels in fish muscle tissues were determined using Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) whereas Hg analysis was carried out using atomic absorption spectrophotometry (AAS). Metal concentrations varied considerably among sampling sites and fish species (P < 0.05), with maximum values (in mg kg−1 wet weight) of 1.00 (Cr), 2.69 (Cu), 29.90 (Zn), 4.25 (Ni), 0.09 (Sb), 0.59 (Cd), 0.09 (Pb), 1.05 (Se) and 1.21 (Hg). Except for Hg, metal concentration in fish was within the permissible levels set by Food and Agriculture Organization, European Union, and World Health Organization for human consumption. However, taking into account the antagonistic effect of Se on Hg, analyzed fishes might have the protection from Hg toxicity. Thus, the results imply that investigated fishes from study area can be considered as safe for human consumption.

Diet composition and feeding dynamics of Trichiurus lepturus Linnaeus, 1758 off Gujarat, north-west coast of India

&lt;p&gt;The largehead ribbonfish, &lt;em&gt;Trichiurus lepturus&lt;/em&gt; Linnaeus, 1758 forms a major fishery along north-west coast of India comprising the two coastal states of Gujarat and Maharashtra. Diet composition was analysed for five years (2010-2014) to understand shifts if any in the prey items. Seasonal changes in the prey items were studied for three years (2012-2014) to explore the temporal dynamics of prey availability in the ecosystem and in largehead ribbonfish guts. Feeding indices &lt;em&gt;viz.,&lt;/em&gt; Stomach fullness index (SFI), empty stomach ratio (ESR), gastrosomatic index (GaSI) and relative gut length (RLG) explained the feeding behaviour, seasonal dynamics and ontogenetic shifts in prey items. The Vacuity Index (VI) was estimated as 37.56%, indicating that&lt;em&gt; T. lepturus&lt;/em&gt; is a carnivore and relatively edacious. Diet of&lt;em&gt; T. lepturus&lt;/em&gt; comprised of fishes (47.16%), crustaceans (45.22%), molluscs (4.33%) and miscellaneous items (3.28%). &lt;em&gt;Acetes&lt;/em&gt; sp. was the most dominant prey item during the study period. Feeding intensity was found to be high during the post-monsoon months which coincided with the period of gonadal maturation of the fish. Significant variations (p&amp;lt;0.05) were seen in the feeding indices during different months, different sizes and between sexes due to the availability of prey items, physiological changes and ontogenetic shifts. A detailed knowledge on diet composition, temporal dynamics in diet patterns and feeding indices can reveal the trophic interaction of prey-predator, resource abundance and fluctuations which are important inputs in&lt;br /&gt;ecology-based fishery management models/tools.&lt;/p&gt;