Abstract

• A study on the commercial fishes from Thanlwin River Mouth and Adjacent Waters, Mon State, Myanmar was conducted in 2009 and 2014. A total of 96 species of commercial fishes was recorded. Of which, 29 species (9 species of fresh water and 20 species of marine fishes), 30.2%, were exported to foreign countries and other regions. The classification system, the station wise species distribution and the compositions of the species compared with the previous record, the family-wise composition of commercial species, their role of economic importance and the main trend of commercial fish distribution channels were presented. Among the commercial species, the species of Thread fin (Polynemidae), Croaker (Sciaenidae), Hilsa (Clupeidae), Bombay duck (Harpadontidae) and Anchovy (Engraulididae) were the most economically important species. The Thread fin, Croaker and Hilsa were more abundant at the Mouth of Thanlwin River (Mawlamyine, Moattama, Bilugyun). Bombay duck and Anchovy (especially Coilia dussumieri) were more abundant at Setse`and Kyaikkhami. The highest abundant (by weight) commercial species from the catch of offshore fishing vessels were Congresox spp., Ilisha spp., Polynemus spp., Pampus argenteus, Chirocentrus nudus, Arius spp., Tenualosa spp., Chrysochir aureus, Cynoglossus spp. and Lepturacanthus spp., respectively. The IUCN assessed Red List species (LR/nt), Scoliodon laticudus (spadenose shark), was recorded and observed this species was more abundant at Setse` and Kyaikkhami.