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Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) are widely used in the food industry due to their probiotic properties and fermentation activities. Traditional fermented fish products are dominated by a diverse variety of lactic acid bacteria with significant probiotic characteristics. Several in vitro and in vivo studies on lactic acid bacteria from fermented fish products have confirmed LAB strains to possess characteristics to be considered as probiotics that contribute to positive health benefits to the host and are generally regarded as safe (GRAS). This paper presents a review of the characteristics of the LAB strain that is considered as a probiotic. It also presents an overview of the probiotics mechanism of action and specifically highlights the LAB species with potential probiotic characteristics isolated from traditional fermented fish products.

The present investigation was aimed at elucidating the importance of freshness and quality for the consumer and its relationship to sensory and non-sensory properties of fish caught by single-day and multi-day gillnet fishing off Satpati Coast, Palghar District, Maharashtra, India. Selected species of marine fishes viz., Pampus argenteus, Ilisha filigera, Osteogeneiosus militaris, Thryssa mystax and Sardinella gibbosa from single-day and multi-day gillnet fishing trips were collected and assessed based on freshness score, microbiological and biochemical parameters. The average values of sensory score, total plate count (TPC) and pH for fish samples from single-day fishing were 25 to 26; 1.9×104 cfu g-1 to 7.3×104 cfu g-1 and 6.8 respectively, whereas for multi-day fishing, it was 12 to 17; 7.1×104 cfu g-1 to 1.8×105 cfu g-1 and 7.07 respectively. Significant difference (p

The operational performance, catch composition and fishing grounds have been documented for gillnets used extensively for catching pomfrets from August 2014 to April 2015 along the Satpati coast, Maharashtra, India. The operational activities of the fishery varied monthly and seasonally; hence, parameters like distance travelled from the shore, depth of operation, colour variation of gear, mesh size, catch composition, catch per unit effort (CPUE), total catch, juvenile composition and major fishing grounds were studied. Wooden, Fibre Reinforced Plastic or plywood boats of 5 to 18 m fitted with inboard engines were used for pomfret fishing and the mean distance travelled by the vessels was 116 ± 7 km from the shore during pre-monsoon while the distance travelled was shorter during monsoon season. The mean depth of operation was 37 ± 0.26 m in monsoon and 42 ± 0.44 m in post-monsoon. The mesh size used for targeting pomfrets was 130 mm during monsoon and post-monsoon that was reduced to 110 mm during pre-monsoon. More white nets were used during monsoon and post-monsoon seasons whereas coloured nets were used during the pre-monsoon. The study revealed that monsoon was the peak season for the capture of pomfrets; seasonal trend showed that the mean CPUE was maximum in monsoon (764 ± 34 kg/fishing vessel) while the values for post-monsoon and pre-monsoon period were 335 ± 45 kg/fishing vessel and 64 ± 3 kg/fishing vessel respectively. Operational performance, season-wise species composition, juvenile composition and gillnet fishing grounds are discussed.

Vibrio cholerae is a gram-negative bacteria known for causing epidemics and pandemics conditions, comprised of both non-pathogenic and pathogenic strains. The present study identified a non O1, non-O139 V. cholerae (EMM1) serotype isolated from diseased Labeo rohita cultured in a wetland system at Purba Medinipur district, West Bengal, India. Identification of the isolate was done by biochemical test, 16S rRNA gene sequencing and phylogenetic analysis. The in vivo challenge experiment revealed that intraperitoneal injection of EMM1 serotype at a dose of 1.04× 107 CFU/ml resulted in 100% mortality of L. rohita. Furthermore, the presence of hlyA and rtxA virulent genes, confirmed by sequencing, in V. cholerae (EMM1) serotype might be, atleast partially involved in the mortality of L. rohita. In histological analysis, we found that EMM1 serotype challenge had a significant effect in L. rohita like degenerated hepatocytes in the liver, shrunken glomeruli in the kidney, necrosis of the intestinal villi epithelium and degeneration of muscle bundle were observed. Overall, the study demonstrated that, V. cholerae (EMM1) serotype is a potent aquatic microbial pathogen and draws the attention for proper management to prevent the possible occurrence of disease in aquaculture.

In the context of increasing fuel prices in fishing operations, low impact fuel efficient (LIFE) fishing practices such as gillnetting assume significance globally for sustainable development of fisheries. Satpati, which is well known for the dominance of mechanised gillnet fishing is an important marine fishing zone of Maharashtra along the north west coast of India. Considering the relevance of fuel efficient fishing methods, the present study focuses on highlighting the importance of gillnet fishing and to document the several changes that have taken place in the fish catch composition and fishing operations in the gillnet fishery at Satpati during the last few decades. The catch data were collected by fortnightly sampling from the single-day (lobster gillnetting) and multiday (pomfret and seer fish gillnetting) gillnet fishing. Specifications of crafts were recorded in the pre-scheduled questionnaire and by physically sampling the units. The study analysed the catch composition of all the three representative units that revealed a change in the trend of species composition over the years. The contribution of pomfrets to the total marine fish landings of Satpati had reduced from 30% in 1987 to 20% in 2015. This can be mainly attributed to the usage of smaller mesh size and increase in juvenile catch of pomfret over the past few years. In this regard, results of the present study with regard to assessment of the present scenario of the mechanised gillnetter fleet at Satpati would be useful to decision makers for imposing fishing fleet restrictions.

Investigations were carried out for evaluating the design and selectivity of Pampus argenteus gillnets used along the Satpati coast. Satpati, an important marine fish landing centre of Maharashtra, India has the maximum Silver pomfret, P. argenteus landing by mechanized gillnetters. Among the maritime states, maximum landing of pomfret was recorded from Gujarat and Maharashtra in the northwest coast. They are highly relished table fishes in domestic and export markets and command high unit value. In India, the species is available in all the coastal states. Gillnet selectivity plays an important role in fish resource management and helps in maintaining sustainability of the stock. The gillnetters used for pomfret fishing in Satpati carried only one net per vessel and the total fleet length ranged from 10620 m to 11400 m. Gillnets are operated as column and bottom drift and depth of operation ranged from 35 m to 50 m. Gillnets made of Polyamide (PA) monofilament of diameter 0.23 mm to 0.28 mm and mesh size that ranged from 110 mm to 130 mm are commonly used. They are rigged with hanging coefficient between 0.42 and 0.51. Hung length varied from 114 m to 143 m and hung depth from 7.66 m to 9.50 m. The estimated optimum length of small mesh and large mesh was 131.40 mm and 155.29 mm respectively. Findings of the present study indicate a drastic decline in the length at first maturity of Silver pomfret to 199 mm fork length and the optimum mesh size estimated is 166 mm. Selectivity in terms of mesh size selectivity in accordance with the size at first maturity and size at first capture helps to eliminate juveniles from the gear. The knowledge of size selectivity of fishing gear types is crucial to fisheries management in order to achieve sustainable yield.