author(s)
Kayalvizhi E, Jayakumar N, Jawahar P and Srinivasan A

abstract
Thoothukudi located in the Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve is one of the most important potential fishing areas along the southeast coast of India. In India, the marine fishes constitute 75.6 %, comprising of 2443 species belonging to 927 genera, under 230 families of 40 orders. Of these 40 orders, the order Beloniformes constitutes a minor pelagic fishery in India whereas it forms a remarkable pelagic fishery in Tamil Nadu contributing an average of 42.6% of total Beloniform fish catch in India. In Tamil Nadu, Thoothukudi is known for fishing which target Beloniform fishes. However, no study has been undertaken in the recent times to document the biodiversity of Beloniform fishes in this region. In this regard, occurrence and abundance data of Beloniform fishes were collected from three different marine fish landing centers viz., Tharuvaikulam, Therespuram and Punnaikayal located along Thoothukudi coast from August 2017 to July 2018. The number of individuals in each species and their length were also noted down. The present check list includes 17 species of beloniform fishes belonging to 9 genera under 3 families. The checklist would help to evolve strategies for the sustainable exploitation and conservation of these fishes along Thoothukudi coast.