Santo Tomas College of Agriculture,

Sciences and technology

Course pack

TLE 102
Introduction to AFA

Prepared by:

SHELLA A. ESPERA, LPT

BTVTED Instructor
MODULE 1
MARINE WATER
This part of the In this module, students are expected to:
course pack will orient the
students about their learning a. Identify the general characteristics of fish.
outcomes and its sources, b. Distinguish the classification of fish and fisheries.
characteristics of good learning c. Give importance in determining the general characters if fish.
outcomes, the different levels of
cognitive domains introduced by
Bloom, classification of learning
outcomes, and the authentic
assessment.

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 LESSON 3
Fish and fisheries
Welcome students! This is the
third lesson for this module. In this lesson,
we have to remind that in every course/ In this lesson, challenge yourself to:
subject or learning activity there must be a
definite guide about what behaviors are a. Determine thE general
expected to be achieved by every student characteristics of fish.
during the learning activity and are
b. Identify the different kinds of
therefore supposed to attain success. Thus, fish and fisheries
all assessment and evaluation activities
should start with the identification and
clarification of the student learning
outcome (SLO).

ACTIVITY

Direction: The following are the classification of fish and fisheries, write down the characteristic/s
of each type.

1. Elasmobranchs
2. Crabs
3. Crustaceans
4. Octopi
5. Polynemidae

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 ANALYSIS

Direction: Answer the following question.

1. What is/are the importance of knowing the general characters of fish?

abstraction
GENERAL CHARACTERS OF FISH
Fishes are built on a fundamental plan and possess following characters in

1. They are cold-blooded (poikilotherms) vertebrates and their body is well-suited

for aquatic mode of life.
2. The locomotion takes place with the help of paired (pectoral and pelvic) and
unpaired fins (dorsal, ventral, anal, caudal). Fins are present for maintaining
equilibrium of the body.
3. Body is covered by dermal scales.
4. The notochord is partially replaced by the vertebral column.
5. Skull and the visceral arches are well-developed.
6. Respiration occurs through the gills.
7. Two chambered, venous heart is present. Circulation is of single type, i.e., only
venous/deoxygenated blood flows through the heart.
8. The kidney of most of the adults is mesonephric/metanephric although in some
cases non-excretory pronephric kidney can be present.

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9. Lateral line and sense organs are well-developed.
10. The middle ear is absent and internal ear is provided with the usual three
semicircular pinnas.
11. The ventral and dorsal roots of spinal nerves are united at the base.
12. The nerves are medullated.

Cartilagenous Bony
Fishes (Chondrichthyes) Fishes (Osteichthyes)
1. Endoskeleton -4 is made up of 1. Endoskeleton is made up
of cartilage. bones.
2. Scales are placoid.
2. Scales + cycloid and ctenoid.
3. There are 5 pairs of gills 3. There are 4 pairs of gills
directly exposed to outside. covered by the operculum.
4. Mouth is terminal.
4. Position of mouth is ventral.
5. Tail is homocercal.
6. Males without claspers.
5. Tail is heterocercal.

6. Males possess a pair of 7. For example, Labeo (Carp)

claspers for copulation. catfish.

7. For example, Scoliodon (Shark)

and rays.

ELASMOBRANCHS
General Characters
The endoskeleton of chondrichthyes is made up of cartilage throughout the life.
The body is covered by placoid scales. There are about 5—7 pairs of gills which are
exposed directly to the outside. Tail is heterocercal. There is a pair of spiracles just
behind the eyes which opens into the pharynx.
Generally, they are viviparous but some are oviparous also. In case of oviparous
forms, the eggs are hard with horny structures, to adhere to the bottom. The incubation
period varies from 3—4 months to a year.

Scoliodon/Dog Fish/Mori
1. Snout is elongated.
2. Teeth are pointed and inclined outwardly serated. It is rich in vitamins.
3. It grows about 1m.
4. Coloration is greyish or brownish.

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Utilization: It is used as food generally by the poor people. The name dog
fish indicates disfavor due to its strong odor. About 50% of total landing is
consumed in fresh condition and remaining is salted, brined or sun dried.
The fins of the fish are sun dried and exported out for making soups.
The liver of most of the species has a high percentage of oil and vitamin A
which can replace the import of cod liver oil.

Zygna Malleus (llammcr Ilcaded Shark)

l. Eyes are situated apart from cach other.
2. Head bctwecn the lateral expansion and dorsally convex.
3. They can grow upto 6 metres.
4. Oil percentage is high with high Vitamin A content.

Rhyncobatus Djedensis—Guitar Fish

1. Snout is acute.
2. Body is long and tube shaped.
3. Teeth is wide.
4. They are viviparous which grow up to 2m and more.
5. Their fins are very valuable for export.

Trygon Uranx
1. Body is triangular, obtusely pointed at the snout.
2. Dorsal and caudal fins are absent.
3. Tail long, whip like and serated spines.
4. These are present in shallow waters.
5. Fins are sun-dried and exported to China for soups.
6. They have poison glands on the tail, therefore also called as sting rays.

POLYNEMIDAE
Polynemus Tetraductylus
They form about 0.64% of total marine catch. The Polynemidae
family has total 9 species out of which three are commercially important,
i.e., Polynemus tetraductylus (Rawas), P. indicus (Dara, Dada), P.
heptaductylus (Shende).

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Gcneral Characters
1. The fish is laterally con)prcsscd with vcntral mouth.
2. The eyes are large covered with thick adipose lid,
3. There are two dorsal fins first with 7—8 spincs and 2nd with 11—15
rays.
4. Single ventral fin is made up of 1 spine and 5 rays.
5. Caudal fin is deeply forked.
6. The peculiarity of this fish is that they have long, thin filaments emerging
from the base of pectoral fin.
7. Depending upon the number of filaments, the species differ. If the
number of filaments is 4, then it will be P. tetraductyles. If number of
filaments are 5, then it is P. indicus and if number of filaments are 7, then it
will be P. heptaductylus.

Food and Feeding

They are carnivorous, predaious and sometimes cannibalistic
also. In the juvenile condition, fish feeds mainly on planktons, such as
copepods, nauplius, etc. As the fish grows, it feeds on larger planktons like
phyllosoma larva, megalopa larva, fish larva and eggs, etc. When the fish
attains maturity (adult-fish), contains its diet crustaceans, e.g., pinnead and
nonpinnead prawns, sepia, Ioligo and some crabs.

Reproduction and Spawning

Hermaphrodism is very common. But, males and females can be
separate. The fish spawns throughout the year but there will be 2 peak
seasons, one is from April—June and second is around October—
December. The number of eggs laid are about 56,11,650 the highest
recorded. The yellow mature eggs will be laid in the water.

Utilization
Mostly the fish is used in fresh condition. The landings which are not sold
are sun dried and these are highly priced next to the pomphrets.

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 SCROMBRIDAE

Indian Mackerel belongs to family Scrombridae.

Mackerel
Scientific name + Scomber microlepidotus also Rastrelliger kanagurta
Common name Mackerel
Local name Bangda

Distribution
It forms about 15% of total marine catch. It is widely distributed along
Indian and Pacific oceans. It is found in India, China, Burma, Pakistan, Sri-
Lanka, Malaysia and Australia, etc.

Distinguishing Characters
Body is elongated with large head, thick adipose lids with eyes, and five
pairs of finlets after the second fin.
In fresh condition, the body is bluish in colour with yellow belly.
There are about 16 blotches on the body and one at the base of the
pectoral.
In fresh condition, there are 4 long lines present just below the dorsal fins.
Caudal fin is deeply forked.

Shoaling
Shoal is a group of fishes of same size and same age group which moves
together.
The shoaling of mackerel shows difference in sizes and shape during the
day and night time. During day time, the shoal appears to be cresenting,
arrow-head shaped during night time, it appears to be phosphorescent.
They move with the speed about 8—10 miles/hour.

Reproduction and Spawning

Sexes are separate but no sexual dimorphism.
The spawning season differs according to the coast. For West coast, it is
from April—September, on East coast it is from November—December
which can proceed upto April.
The liberation of eggs takes place during night. All eggs are not laid at once
but with some time period. The numbers of eggs laid are approximately
around 94,000. The eggs are pelagic.

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Fisheries
The main landing centers are from the West Coast (80—90%) Ratnagiri,
Malvan, Goa, Bombay, etc. The East Coast have centers, such as Cochin,
Chennai, Vishakhapatnam, Orissa, etc. (10—20%).

TRICHIURINIDAE
Ribbon Fish
It belongs of family Trichiuridae. It forms about 4.1% of total marine catch .

Distribution
It is widely distributed in India, China, Burma, Philippines and some part of
Australia. In India, the main landing centers are Kerala, Maharashtra,
Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Orissa.

General Characters
The body is long, elongated, laterally flattened and tapering towards the
posterior end to form a tail. Single dorsal fin is present which extends up to
the end of the tail. Ventral and caudal fins are altogether absent. Pelvic fin
is reduced or absent. Both the jaws with canine like teeth and lateral line is
very well-developed.

Food and Feeding

The food and feeding habit of fish shows variations depending upon its age.
The juvenile fish feeds on planktons, such as copepods, calanoid and larva
of Anchovy family.
As the fish matures, the contents of diet are fishes like sciana tetradon,
squids, crabs, prawns (paneia) and is also supplemented by Lucifers. The
food and feeding habit of adults is carnivorous, predacious and sometimes
cannibalistic also.
Species of Trichiuridae Family
1. T savala
2. T intermedius
3. T. medicus
4. T. leptures
Some scientists have found four more species of this family but their
existence is still not clear.

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 CLUPEDAE
Oil Sardine
Scientific name: Clupea longiceps, sardinella, longiceps.
Common name: Oil Sardine or Malbar fish.
Local name: Tarli
Family: Clupeidae
Same species: White Sardine, Kowala Kowala

Distribution
It forms about 314th of' the total marine fishery. It belongs to family
Clupeidae. The other fish belonging to same genus are white sardine, i.e.,
kowala kowala and lesser sardines.
It is widely distributed in India, China, Sri-Lanka, Pakistan and Burma which
is mainly concentrated in Indo-Pacific oceans.

General Characters
It has a single dorsal fin. There are abdominal scutes and the body is
oblong in shape. Caudal fin is deeply forked. In fresh condition, the fish is
bluish in colour at upper half part of the body and remaining part is white
with a pinkish tinches on the belly. The body shows reflection.

Fishery
The main landing centers are Kerala and Karnataka. The catch from
Maharashtra is very poor.

SCOPILIDAE
Bombay Duck
Family: Scopilidae
Scientific name: Horpodon neherius
Common name: Bombay duck Local name: Bombil

Distribution
It belongs to family Scopilidae. It forms around 10% of total marine catch. It
is widely distributed in India, China, Malaysia and Gulf of Mannar.

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General Characters
The body is elongated and covered with a few scales. Single dorsal fin is
present which is situated in between the head and the caudal fin. Caudal is
trilobed, eyes small, mouth with upper and elongated lower jaw. Teeth are
present on both the jaws along with the tongue. Body shows
phosphorescent.
The teeth on the tongue are called as lingual teeth.

Reproduction
Sexes are different but no sexual dimorphism. The fish breeds throughout
the year from October—April with two peak seasons from April—June and
from November—December. It was believed earlier that a single fish
spawns twice a year but it is not true. As a whole, the species only have
two peak seasons and single fish spawns only once is a year.

CRUSTACEANS
Prawns

Distribution
Prawns are fragile crustaceans inhabiting in marine, freshwater and
estuarine water. They mainly feed on plants and animal detritous, e.g.,
Rohu detritous and feeding on whatever settled on bottom/rocks.
Among the marine prawns, the specimens are found around the depth of
20—30m while the immature ones live in shallow waters around depth less
than 20m.

Distinguishing Characters of Male Prawns and Female Prawns

In male prawns, a specialized structure called as petasma which is made
by the fusion of two hook like projections united together at the end of first
segment. In case of females, a concavity at the last abdominal segment is
present called as thallicum for receiving the spermatophores given by the
male during mating.
Prawns are divided into paenieds and non-paenieds depending on their
habitat. Prawns living in marine water are called as shrimps and belong to
family—Paeniedae Prawns living in freshwater or estuaries are called as
non-paenieds prawns and belong to family Paleomonidae.

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Kinds of Prawn Fishery
Depending upon the habitat from which the prawns are captured in India,
there are 3 kinds of prawn fishery:
1. Marine prawn fishery.
2. Estuarine prawn fishery.
3. Freshwater prawn fishery.
About 2/3 rd of total catch is made by marine prawn fishery. The main
landing centers are brackish waters of Cochin, Pulicat, Chilka, Ennore, etc.,
to the major estuaries along the east coast. Marine prawns migrate into
estuaries for feeding and breeding. The main centers are Verawal, Carval,
Mangalore, Cochin, Vishakapattanum, Mumbai and Chilka.

Fishery
There are seasonal variations in prawn fishery. Freshwater
prawns are caught throughout the year with one/two peak seasons.
Similarly, marine prawns are also caught in small numbers throughout the
year but with the definite seasonal change are also observed in marine
fishery.
The fishing seasons on the west coast is carried out throughout
e
the y ar with two peaks. One is from July—October and other is from
November-December. Around 90% of total catch is from the west coast and

the main landing centers are Kerala, Maharashtra and Gujarat.

On the east coast, fishing season is throughout the year with peak from
December to August. In the lakes, the fishing is restricted to only rainy
season.

CRABS
The crabs are the crustaceans, having chitinous, calcified
carapace. They have five pairs of head appendages and eight pairs of
thorax appendages, of which the last five pairs are modified as legs. The
first pair of legs is modified to powerful chelate legs which are used for
grasping the food and in defense mechanism. The rest of them are used for
either walking or swimming. For swimming, they are adopted as oar-like
flattened paddles.
The crabs are available in marine water, estuaries and a very few
are present in freshwater. There are about 600 species known, out of which
only a few are commercially important.

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The important families of crabs are the following:
1. Calipiddae — Mutata linarius (biggest crab)
2. Ponunidac — Scylla serrata—9 spines
Neptunus neptunus-3 spots, middle one is large.
N. pelagicus—spines on carapace.
Chatybdis—cross like structure on body.
3. Grapsidae — Varula litterata.
The commonly used crabs for consumption are from these families.

LOBSTERS
Distribution
Lobsters are found in India, Japan, Mauritius, Sri-Lanka, Burma and
Malaysia. They belong to family Palliniuridae. Lobsters are of following
types:
1. L Spiny lobsters have four species.
a. Panulirus humaries: No yellow strips, abdomen ridges are distinct.
b. Panulirus ornata: No yellow strips, greenish yellow blue patches.
c. Panulirus vesicolour: Yellow strips and blue colouration on both the
sides.
d. Panulirus polyphagus: Only yellow strips and no blue colouration.
2. Rock lobsters have two species.
Lobsters belong to the family Palliniuridae. In India, the lobsters are
called as spiny lobsters, as they differ from true lobsters in 4 characters. (i)
a. Absence of crushing claw.
b. Absence of orbit for the eyes.
c. Carapace is sub-cylindrical in shape instead of elongated.
d. Presence of appendicular flagellum.

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 OCTOPI
The octopi possess one pair of branchae and are therefore
included in the order Dibranchiata under the class Cephalopoda, but they
have only four pairs of arms and not five. Hence, they are placed under the
suborder Octopoda as distinct from the Decapoda which includes the
squids and cuttlefishes. The octopi lead a semi-sedentary existence, lurking
in gaps among the rocks during the day and coming out at night in search
of their prey. Their bodies are short, without fins and the arms are
welldeveloped and provided with a double row of powerful unarmed
suckers. In the basal region, the arms are united by an interbrachial
membrane. A cuttlebone or the pen found in the decapoda is absent in
octopoda. Their food consists of crabs and other crustaceans, bivalve
molluscs, small fishes, etc., which they capture firmly with their suckered
arms and crush with their powerful jaws. Octopods as an item of food are
not relished much in India but are caught in traps and used as baits in hook
and line fishing. In Lakshadweep, the octopi are regularly hunted and used
as food. Along the coasts of the mainland, their utilization as food is very
little.
Octopus herdmani Hoyle causes much destruction to the pearl oyster beds,
voraciously feeding on these oysters. O. globosus, O. rugosus, O. dolfusi,
O. honkongensis are among the species reported from the Indian coasts.
The smaller octopi are caught in shell traps to be used as bait. As reported
elsewhere, Lambis shells and other gastropods shells are driven holes and
strung on coir ropes and laid in shallow waters. They are lifted periodically
and the octopi seeking shelter in them are removed for bait and the strings
are re-laid in the waters.

ALGAE
Marine algae have been used as manure in many countries from
time immemorial. As they are very watery, hence are bulky. About 20 to 50
tonnes per acre are essential to supply enough nitrogen, phosphoric acid
and potash to satisfy the requirements of farm crops.

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Uses of Algae
l . They can be profitably used only in farms in the neighbourhood of the
sea coast. In developing countries like India, where labour is plentiful,
transportation is cheap and chemical fertilizers are scarce and expensive
marine algae can be utilized increasingly for the agricultural purposes.
2. Seaweeds are applied directly or made into compost, or burned and the
ash is scattered on the land.
3. In China, the weed is buried in the earth, until it is partly decayed, before
it is applied to the soil. The ash obtained after burning algae is applied as
manure. Owing to burning, there is a loss of nitrogen, but not of the
valuable potash salts.
4. Laminaria and Fucus are the two most suitable algae for the fodder.
They can be used in portions upto 15 per unit of the normal ration as a
supplementary food.
5. The digestive tract of domestic animals has a greater capacity to deal
with algal tissue than that of man but even then, a good deal of seaweed
material is not digested.
6. Marine algae are a rich source of vitamins, such as Bp B , C, D and E
and also carotene which is the precursor of vitamin A. Some algae rank
among our best sources for certain parts.

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 APPLICATION
What have you learned?

Make an essay composed of summarization of what you’ve learned in

this module particularly the general characteristics of fish and types of
fish and fisheries.

Rubrics for Essay

Features Expert (5) Accomplished Capable (3) Beginner (2)
(4)
Quality of Piece was Piece was written Piece had little Piece had no style
Writing written in an in an interesting style or voice or voice
extraordinary style and voice Gives some Gives no new
style and Somewhat new information information and very
voice informative and but poorly poorly organized
Very organized organized
informative
and well-
organized

Grammar, Virtually no Few spelling and A number of So many spelling,

Usage & spelling, punctuation spelling, punctuation and
Mechanic punctuation errors, minor punctuation or grammatical errors
s or grammatical grammatical that it interferes
grammatical errors errors with the meaning
errors

Ideas Presents Presents ideas in Ideas are too Ideas are vague or
ideas in an a consistent general unclear
original manner
manner