Silverbellies, also known as ponyfish and slipmouth, are an important demersal fishery resource in India. They belong to the family Leiognathidae and there are 21 species found in Indian waters. Production of silverbellies has increased over time, with the highest annual landing of around 92,000 tonnes in 1983. They are exploited mainly by trawl nets and contribute significantly to fisheries in states like Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, and Gujarat. Silverbellies are short-lived species, typically living less than two years, and support an important sundried and salt-cured fish industry as well as fish meal production. Conservation requires maintaining species diversity and proportional