Abstract:

The banded or giant gourami, Colisa fasciata (Bloch and Schneider 1801) has high food as well as ornamental value in India and its neighbouring countries. The natural resources of this species are declining due to over exploitation. Food habits, condition, reproductive biology, length–weight relation, population parameters and fishery resource status of the species in a floodplain wetland in the Ganga River basin, India, were studied to provide inputs for conservation of the natural populations of the species. The fish subsisted mainly on phytoplankton. Sex ratio was in favor of males. Fecundity ranged from 1095 to 19291. Females matured at 5.7 cm in total length. The breeding period was March–September. The regression model for length and weight of the fish was established. Catch was maximum during October-February, the post spawning period, and lower during March-September, the breeding period. The estimates obtained for von Bertalanffy growth coefficient (K) =1.3 year-1, total mortality (Z) = 2.8 year-1, natural mortality (M) = 2.3 year-1, fishing mortality (F) = 0.5 year-1, exploitation ratio (E)= 0.18, exploitation rate for maximum yield per recruit (Emax)= 0.6, asymptotic length (L∞) = 10.4 cm, length at maturity (Lm) = 7.0 cm and length at maximum possible yield (Lopt) = 6.1 cm. Ten percent of the fishes caught were immature and 37% were in the length at maximum possible yield. Closed or less intense fishing during March–September and selective catch of specimens of 6 cm length would help in the conservation of the natural stock of the fish and to obtain maximum possible yield.

Full text PDF

Date 2007/11/13

Abstract Hits 2585

Downloads 2988