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Catch trends of bottom trawl fauna off Goa, India were investigated at fortnightly intervals from February 2006 - May 2008 with the exception of June - October months (monsoon). Inter-comparison of faunal abundance data obtained during February to April months of 2006, 2007 and 2008 indicated that abundance during 2006 and 2008 were significantly higher as compared to 2007. Available fish landing data for the region also corroborated this trend. The dominance of sub-adults among stomatopods during post-monsoon season (November - January), juveniles and sub-adults among prawns during premonsoon (February - May), indicated recruitment to the fishery. Comparison with 40-year-old published data indicated significant reduction in the overall yield (P = 0.043; a = 0.05). Additionally, yields of 12 out of 15 fish groups across the demersal trophic spectrum decreased significantly (P = 0.031; a = 0.05). However, catches of miscellaneous species increased 17 times, and were dominated by pufferfishes. The profusion of pufferfish is attributed to the perennial breeding habit of these fishes combined with increased removal of potential predators such as sharks and catfishes. Marine Trophic Index (MTI) and Fishing-in-Balance Index (FiB) decreased at rates of 0.017 and 0.016 per decade, respectively, implying that sustained fishing pressure over the next few decades could lead to potential trophic cascade and dominance of resilient opportunistic species such as puffers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intensive mechanized fishing has induced marked alterations in coastal marine ecosystems resulting in proliferation of low-value, nuisance species in marine fish catches. Assessment of 75 shrimp trawl catches taken in the near-shore waters off Goa, west coast of India during active fishing periods from 2006 - 2008 revealed that the demersal pufferfish, Lagocephalus spadiceus constituted ≈ 27 % by weight of the trawl catch during January - March, and its catch was inversely related to prey and predator species. Sub-tidal rock reefs and submerged rocky patches in the study area offer suitable substrates for spawning, and the predominance of adults during these months suggesting spawning migration. Comparison of the present data with published literature indicates a significant reduction in puffer predators (catfishes). Excessive removal of highvalue predators favours the proliferation of pufferfish and its establishment as a meso-predator, probably triggering a potential trophic cascade. The paper discusses the role of removal of High Trophic Level (HTL) species in the proliferation of a meso-predator and its impact on ecosystem function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the first observation of a rare deep-water stenopodidean shrimp, Engystenopus palmipes Alcock & Anderson, 1894 (Crustacea: Decapoda) from Southeastern Arabia Sea, India, supplemented with notes on its diagnosis, and geographical distribution, is reported. A single specimen of E. palmipes was collected using Expo model trawl net onboard the Fisheries Oceanographic Research Vessel Sagar Sampada from a depth of 610 meters. Previously reported from the Western Pacific, Australia, Madagascar, and off Sri Lanka, this is the first report to the Indian waters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]