Shrimp Scad - Biology and Fishery

Biology and Fishery

The shrimp scad is known to be a migratory species, with records from India indicating the fish resides and feeds in the waters of Madras from September to May, before migrating elsewhere to spawn. The shrimp scad feeds on a variety of prey, with at least two shifts in diet occurring as the fish mature. Older individuals feed mainly on young fishes, crustaceans like decapods, ostracods, amphipods and cladocerans with minor amounts of nematodes, insect body parts and insect larvae taken. Fish within a length range of 150–199 mm and 240–319 mm showed a preference for young fishes, while those in the length range of 200–239 mm primarily consumed ostracods and other crustaceans. Based on the food items taken, the species is an active midwater feeder. There is less food consumed during breeding season, which is indicative of reduced feeding activity during that period. Sexual maturity is attained by about 17 cm fork length and spawning is thought to occur in shallow coastal waters.

The species is of moderate commercial interest in most countries where it is often considered too small to be worthwhile and is often caught on hook and line tackle and in seines as bycatch. In Indian fisheries, the shrimp scad accounts for 43% of the carangid catch in purse seines, however is rarely taken by trawls or gill nets. It is also often taken by subsistence fisheries using various traditional gear such as inter-tidal fixed stake traps. Around the Asian and Indonesian coasts, larger numbers are taken than anywhere else in its range and it is considered a good eating fish.