Delineation of the Stock Structure of White Sardine Escualosa thoracata (Valenciennes, 1847) Along the Indian Waters based on Biometric Analysis

Background: An understanding of the stock structure commercially exploited species is important for effective fisheries management. The white sardine Escualosa thoracata (Valenciennes, 1847) forms a significant fishery along with both costs India. decline in resource landings during last decade whole range its distribution necessitated recent deliberations to recognize likely existence stocks. In present study, fish stocks are typically identified based on differences phenotypic characteristics between from discrete units assess Indian waters using biometric analysis. Methods: Different four distinct locations, two each west coast (Mumbai and Cochin) east (Kolkata Chennai) peninsula were surveyed geographical situation 2016. collected samples determined morpho-meristic deliberationsand subsequently, data analysis was carried out Result: Biometric used as one complementary contributions manage control management-related problems future. results obtained by morphometric meristic analyses, correlated conformed.