Somy Kuriakose

Cascading Globalization and Local Response Indian Fishers' Response to Export Market Liberalization

Scholars have long debated whether trade liberalization has positive or negative effects on resource use and ecosystems. This study examines the conditions under which resource use increases or decreases in response to reduced trade barriers, specifically after the 2008 World Trade Organization decision that led the United States to reduce anti-dumping duties on Indian shrimp. At the district level in South India, fishing fleet expansion was correlated with access to global market information via mobile phones. Model simulations indicate that increased mobile phone saturation could expand fishing effort sufficiently to deplete multiple marine species groups, while other species benefit from the loss of predators. However, scenario analysis suggests that regulatory interventions could mitigate these ecosystem pressures while still permitting fishers to benefit from increased access to global market information.

Midnight Snapper Macolor macularis (Perciformes: Lutjanidae)—a new record of snapper from Indian waters

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.

Range extension of the striped triggerfish Xanthichthys lineopunctatus (Tetraodontiformes: Balistidae) from India

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.

Occurrence of two serranid fish from Indian waters with a note on their taxonomy

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.