Profile updated on 17 September 2019

SUMMARY

SUMMARY

IDENTIFICATION

SCIENTIFIC NAME(s)

Sepia pharaonis

SPECIES NAME(s)

Pharaoh cuttlefish

COMMON NAMES

Pharaoh cuttlefish

The pharaoh cuttlefish (Sepia pharaonis)  is a tropical species, with distribution from 35° N to 30° S and from 30° E to 140° E in the Indo-Pacific (i.e., in the Red Sea, Arabian Sea to South China Sea, East China Sea, and northern and northwestern Australia) (Roper et al. 1984). 

This species is the largest among cuttlefishes and grows to a maximum dorsal mantle length (DML) of 43 cm for males and 33 cm for females; common sizes in landings range from 15 to 20 cm (Roper et al. 1984).  On the east coast of  India, sizes of cuttlefishes supporting the fishery range between 11 to 18.9 cm (max: 26.5 cm) (Silas et al. 1982). 

The stock structure is unknown, this profile is defined as an assessment unit.


ANALYSIS

Strengths
  • Current stock status for the species in India SE trawl fishery is sustainable (CMFRI 2023)

SCORES

Management Quality:

Management Strategy:

≥ 6

Managers Compliance:

< 6

Fishers Compliance:

< 6