Unusual bumper catch of shrimps at Nochikuppam, near Chennai, east coast of India

Sporadic occurrence of penaeid shrimps consisting exclusively of Fenneropenaeus indicus (Indian white shrimp–Vella eral/Por eral), F. merguiensis (banana shrimp – Vella eral/ Sunnambu eral), Penaeus semisulcatus (green tiger shrimp – Valayampoota era/motta eral/vari eral/ flower), Penacus monodon (giant tiger shrimp – Kotteral/Kathamba eral/kara) are usually recorded by indigenous gears like single-layer gillnet (Pannu valai) and three-layer trammel net (Disco valai/Mani valai). In these nets the shrimp catch rate vary from 2 to 5 kg/unit, while in the trawl net, shrimps form 10 to 15 % of the annual total fish along the Chennai coast. However, an unusual bumper catch of shrimps to a tune of 22.8 t was landed by trammel net at Nochikuppam Landing Centre near Chennai during 10th - 14th December

On unusual heavy landing of cat fish Tachysurus dussumieri (Valenciennes) at Kasimedu, Madras

An unusual catch of cat fishes was recorded from 'Eda valai' (Bag net) netters. Out of that, 14 t was netted iix a single haul by 'Eda valai' opeiated by a catamaran at a depth of 10-15 m. 'Eda valai' is a traditional boat seine usually operated in shallow coastal areas with an extremely wide rectangular mouth or nearly square, measuring 20 m to catch pelagic shoals

Emerging ringseine fishery of oilsardine (Sardinella longiceps) off Puducherry coast

Puducherry Union Territory has 45 km of coast which extends from Kanagachettykulam in the north to Murthykuppam in the south and contributes around 5% to the total marine fish catch of the country. The average annual catch was 15,492 t during 2005 – 2009. One of the most significant development in the marine fisheries sector observed in recent years is the large scale introduction of ringseine boats for commercial exploitation of pelagic fish resources, which is also observed along the coast off Puducherry

Bumper catch of oil sardine Sardinella longiceps along Cuddalore coast

The oil sardine Sardinella longiceps constitutes the most important pelagic resource sustaining the marine fishery on the west coast of India. Two decades ago, the occurrence of this species along the east coast was considered sporadic and rare. In early eighties, there was report on the unusual landing of this species along Puducherry region. Over the years, there has been an increase in the landings of this species on the east coast especially along the Coromandal coast. In July 2008, there were reports in the local daily news papers that the oil sardine shoals were found to move towards the shore off Devanampattinam fishing village and small boys were also able to have easy access to the fish shoal who handpicked the sardines. Some fishes were also stranded and found dead on the beach. This occurrence is linked to upwelling phenomenon which brings the oxygen depleted cold water from the bottom of the sea due to churning by the water current

Differential item functioning for items in Berger's HIV Stigma Scale: an analysis of cohorts from the Indian, Swedish, and US contexts

PURPOSE: To examine whether items in Berger's HIV Stigma Scale function differently with persons of different age, gender, and cultural backgrounds. METHODS: Secondary data from cohorts, collected in South India (n = 250), Sweden (n = 193), and the US (n = 603) were reanalyzed to evaluate DIF within, between, and across these cohorts. All participants had answered the revised version of the HIV stigma scale consisting of 32 items forming the subscales Personalized stigma, Disclosure concerns, Concerns about public attitudes, and Negative self-image. Differential Item Functioning (DIF) for these items was assessed using hybrid ordinal regression-IRT technique. When DIF was detected, the cumulative impact of DIF on individual subscale scores was evaluated. RESULTS: DIF was detected for 9 items within, between, or across cohorts, but the DIF was negligible in general. Detected DIF between the Swedish and Indian cohorts had a cumulative salient impact on individual scores for the subscale Disclosure Concerns; Disclosure concerns were overestimated in the Swedish cohort and both over- and underestimated in the Indian cohort. CONCLUSIONS: The items in the 32-item version of the HIV stigma scale did not seem to be particularly prone to present DIF. The DIF between the Indian and Swedish cohort for items in the subscale Disclosure Concerns could, however, result in both type I and type II errors if scores should be compared between the Indian and Swedish cohort

Differential item functioning for items in Berger's HIV Stigma Scale: an analysis of cohorts from the Indian, Swedish, and US contexts

PURPOSE: To examine whether items in Berger's HIV Stigma Scale function differently with persons of different age, gender, and cultural backgrounds. METHODS: Secondary data from cohorts, collected in South India (n = 250), Sweden (n = 193), and the US (n = 603) were reanalyzed to evaluate DIF within, between, and across these cohorts. All participants had answered the revised version of the HIV stigma scale consisting of 32 items forming the subscales Personalized stigma, Disclosure concerns, Concerns about public attitudes, and Negative self-image. Differential Item Functioning (DIF) for these items was assessed using hybrid ordinal regression-IRT technique. When DIF was detected, the cumulative impact of DIF on individual subscale scores was evaluated. RESULTS: DIF was detected for 9 items within, between, or across cohorts, but the DIF was negligible in general. Detected DIF between the Swedish and Indian cohorts had a cumulative salient impact on individual scores for the subscale Disclosure Concerns; Disclosure concerns were overestimated in the Swedish cohort and both over- and underestimated in the Indian cohort. CONCLUSIONS: The items in the 32-item version of the HIV stigma scale did not seem to be particularly prone to present DIF. The DIF between the Indian and Swedish cohort for items in the subscale Disclosure Concerns could, however, result in both type I and type II errors if scores should be compared between the Indian and Swedish cohort

Spurt in the landings of crabs along northern Tamil Nadu and Puducherry coasts

The marine crab fishery by mechanised trawlers along the north Tamil Nadu (Chennai and Cuddalore) and Puducherry coasts is mainly supported by those belonging to the genera Portunus and Charybdis of the family Portunidae. Species like Portunus sanguinolentus, P. argentatus, P. gladiator, P. pelagicus, Charybdis natator, C. lucifera, C. variegata and Podopthalmus vigil are commercially important. Of these, until the end of October 2008, there were remarkable changes in the landing pattern of trawl fishing along the north Tamil Nadu and Puducherry coasts. The same change of pattern was also seen in indigenous gears such as gillnet, operated near the shore, locally called as Nandu valai and Kallu valai in the depth range of 5 – 10 m. In multiday long voyage trawl fishing, crabs were caught in deeper waters up to 100 m. In single day fishing, the fishermen operated up to 50 - 60 m. In the crab exploitation there was heavy landings of P. sanguinolentus and other portunid crabs along the Tamil Nadu coast, while other fish categories were poorly caught during the period. A brief account of unusual heavy landings of the portunid crabs is reported here