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Vulnerability assessment frameworks are used in many countries to provide a primary assessment status of marine fish stocks and their susceptibility to change in response to external factors. With increasing evidence that the marine fisheries of India are likely to face major impacts of changing climate along with other natural and anthropogenic factors, a study was carried out to determine the relative vulnerability of 68 species of finfish and shellfish along the Indian coast. Species selection was based on their abundance and importance in the fishery across 4 zones in the country (northeast, northwest, southeast and southwest) and on biological characteristics like growth, reproduction and predator–prey interactions. Vulnerability assessment was based on the relation between exposure, sensitivity and adaptability attributes, expressed as V = (E + S) − A. The exposure attributes selected were environmental parameters that have a direct impact on the fish stocks. Sensitivity attributes were biological characteristics that are indicative of the ability or inability of the species to respond to external pressures. Adaptive capacity attributes were biological and ecological traits that could help the species to adapt to a fluctuating or changing environment. About 69% of the species studied are highly vulnerable along the Indian coast, with their susceptibility being higher along the east coast. Fishing pressure contributes significantly to stock fluctuations and reproductive output. Species with restricted geographic distribution are especially vulnerable to climate change. The outcome of this study will serve as an effective tool in prioritizing mitigation and fishery management strategies on a regional basis in the country.

The demand for fish maw (i.e., dried swim bladder) has apparently intensified during the past decades in Hong Kong and mainland China; currently, maw has similar annual import volumes but far higher mean unit values than other important seafood delicacies like shark fins and sea cucumber. Escalated demand for seafood delicacies can significantly contribute to the depletion of marine resources; yet a comprehensive understanding of maw value and the fisheries that supply it is lacking. We review available information on eight important maw-supplying species in major and largely undocumented source countries to examine the susceptibility and exposure of fisheries to the maw trade, which primarily serves Chinese demand. Comparing ex-vessel price ratios of maw to flesh (USD/kg), the overall mean price of maw can be as much as 72 times higher (range between 12:1 and 8389:1). Catch, price and export trends demonstrate that demand for maw is likely intensifying in countries already supplying it, shifting or expanding to new species, and emerging in new regions. We find that most maw-supplying species are under high fishing pressure, poorly or not protected. Those that yield the highest maw prices exhibit spawning aggregations, making them exceptionally vulnerable to overexploitation. While management interventions are needed to sustain fishery resources and capture economic benefits, their effectiveness will be challenged by the high value of maw.

Taking advantage of published data on life-history traits and short-term information on fishery parameters from 3132 records for 644 fish stocks along the coast of India, we calculated resilience (R) and vulnerability (V). Further, we developed an Index of Resilience and Vulnerability (IRV) for 133 species of tropical finfishes, crustaceans, and molluscs. Using 7 resilience and 6 vulnerability attributes, two-dimensional scatter plots of the resilience and vulnerability scores were generated and the Euclidean distance and angle from the origin to each point were calculated to determine IRV and the effect of fishing on fish species. By ranking the species, the top 10 highly resilient, highly vulnerable, and high-risk species (low IRV) were identified. While small-sized species with fast growth rate and low trophic level were among the highly resilient species, large predatory species such as sharks and barracudas were among the highly vulnerable and high-risk species. More than 100 of the 133 species were resilient-yet-vulnerable, and most crustaceans showed high resilience. Differences in IRV scores among species within the same family were discernible, indicating the differences in the biological characteristics and response to fishing. Sensitivity analysis indicated that an abridged IRV with 6 attributes works similar to 13 attributes and can be used in data-deficient situations. Comparison of R and V of IRV with other assessments showed different results because of divergences in the objectives, number and types of attributes, and thresholds used. These assessments do not convey the same information and therefore great care must be taken for reproducing these frameworks to other fisheries. The results of IRV analysis can be useful for stock assessments and in developing effective management measures in combination with other complementary information.

Among threats to marine species, overfishing has often been highlighted as a major contributor to population declines and yet fishing effort has increased globally over the past decade. This paper discusses the decadal reassessment of groupers (family Epinephelidae), an important and valuable group of marine fishes subjected to high market demand and intense fishing effort, based on IUCN criteria. Allowing for uncertainty in the status of species listed as Data Deficient, 19 species (11.4%) are currently assigned to a “threatened” category. This first reassessment for a large marine fish taxon permits an evaluation of changes following the original assessments, provides a profile of the current conservation condition of species, identifies the challenges of assessing conservation status, and highlights current and emerging threats. Measures needed to reduce threats and lessons learned from conservation efforts are highlighted. Present threats include intensifying fishing effort in the face of absent or insufficient fishery management or monitoring, growing pressures from international trade, and an inadequate coverage in effectively managed, sized, or located protected areas. Emerging threats involve expansion of fishing effort into deeper waters and more remote locations, shifts to previously non-targeted species, increases in the capture, marketing and use of juveniles, growing demands for domestic and international trade, and, potentially, climate change. Those species most threatened are larger-bodied, longer-lived groupers, most of which reproduce in spawning aggregations. Universidade dos Açores; Ocean Park Conservation Fund -Hong Kong; Mohamed bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund; University of Hong Kong fund through IUCN; Governo dos Acores fund through IUCN; United States Voluntary fund through IUCN info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion

90.4 million tonnes of fish was captured from the world oceans with a first sale value of US$ 217.5 billion during 2011 of which 52% was contributed by Asian countries. Of the 54,711 recognized living vertebrate species of the world, fishes contribute slightly more than one half. Although flatfishes are common in most marine fish assemblages from the poles to the tropics, most landings data reported to FAO from tropical regions do not list statistics for individual flatfishes except Indian halibut; 54–80% of the total landings of tropical flatfishes consist of unidentified species. With importance being attached to recording the biodiversity of the tropical “mega-biodiversity area,” a review of the current status of the flatfish fishery and taxonomy is necessary to augment further work in this area and explore options for further research.

The Midnight Snapper Macolor macularis, is reported for the first time from the Indian exclusive economic zone based on the two specimens collected from Cochin Fisheries Harbour, Kerala on the south-west coast of India on December 2012 and October 2013. Morphometric and meristic data of the specimens are presented and discussed.

The serranid fish Liopropoma lunulatum (Guichenot, 1863) and Plectropomus laevis (Lace´pe`de, 1801) were recorded from Cochin fisheries harbour, Kerala in March 2012, constituting new records for Indian waters. Morphometric and meristic characters of the specimens were similar to those reported elsewhere for the species. Distinguishing characters and colour patterns of the two species are discussed. The present record indicates a marked extension of their range of distribution from their type localities.

Two specimens of Xanthichthys lineopunctatus of total length 254 mm and 293 mm were collected from hook and line units operating off Kerala near Lakshadweep on the south-west coast of India in October 2004 and November 2005. The species is characterized by an oblong compressed body with a small mouth, yellowish brown body traversed horizontally by incomplete reddish brown lines from the operculum which become dotted lines on ventral area. This is the first report of the genus from Indian waters and an addition to the nine genera and thirteen species of balistids already reported from Indian waters. The descriptions of the specimens collected are provided with possible cause of range extension due to temperature changes in its natural habitat.

Two specimens of Lophozozymous incisus were collected from the gut of Humpback red snapper Lutjanus gibbus caught in hooks and lines off Cochin. L. incisus belongs to Family Xanthidae, the largest family of brachyuran crabs. The crab has only been reported from Angrias Bank, Maharashtra and Orissa coast. This is the first report from the southern waters.

The dwarf monocle breams of Genus Parascolopsis are bottom living small fishes generally seen in the outer shelf and continental slope waters and are represented worldwide by 12 species. Morphometric measurements, meristic counts and identification of the specimens follows standard methods. Parascolopsis capitinis Russell (J South Asian Nat Hist. 2:63–6, 1996), is reported for the first time from Indian waters based on 22 specimens (192–232 mm total length) collected from Cochin fisheries harbour in the South-west coast of India on 5 November 2012. This is the first report of the fish from Indian waters and adds to the five species already reported from this genus from Indian waters. Full description of the species is provided.

Three species of Myripristid fishes identified as Myripristis seychellensis, M. formosa and M. greenfieldi were collected from Indian waters. This adds to the already existing six species of soldierfishes Myripristis adusta, M. berndti, M. botche, M. hexagona, M. murdjan and M. violacea recorded from Indian and Andaman waters. Since these three fishes are new distributional records for Indian waters, meristic counts, body measurements and descriptions of the specimens are presented.