Indian J. Fish., 47(1) : 1-6, Jan.

-Mar, 2000

Population dynamics of Labeo calhasu in t h e Sylhet basin, Bangladesh

M. ALAM, S.M.N. A M N AND A.K. YOUSUF HAROON*
Bangladesh Fisheries Research Institute, Chandpur-3602, Bangladesh
ABSTRACT

(Hamilton)

Riverine

Station,

Population parameters of Labeo calbasu (Hamilton) were estimated using FiSAT software with length-frequency data collected from different areas of Sylhet basin, north-eastern part of Bangladesh. The von Bertalanffy growth parameters L and K for the species were 49.30 cm and 0.63 / year respectively. The annual rate of natural (M) and fishing (F) mortality were found to be 1.11 and 3.48, respectively. The rate of exploitation (E) was estimated as 0.76. Recruitmet of this species into the fishery takes place during August to October with peak during AugustSeptember. E^j^ was found to be 0.449. The present investigation clearly showed the over fishing (E>0.50) condition for L. calbasu in the Sylhet basin. The relationship between the total length and body weight was found to be W + 0.00927*TL 3.109.

Introduction
Labeo calbasu (Hamilton) locally known as kalibaus or kaliara is a medium sized, bottom feeding carp which generally attains a length of 71 cm and a weight of 5.5 kg (Rahman, 1989). This fish is available all over Bangladesh, especially in the rivers of northeastern region (Shafi and Quddus, 1975) and widely cultured in ponds in combination with other Ganjetic carp species. It is also found in Pakistan, India and Myanmar This fish forms one of the major components of the commercial fish catch of the Sylhet basin. Sporadic works were done to study the length-weight relationship, condition factor and food and feeding habit of the Ganjetic major carps (Jhingran, 1957; Khan and Siddique, 1973; Sree Prakash and Gupta, 1986). There is no published information on
* Corresponding author : E-mail : [email protected]

the population dynamics and stock assessemnt of this species in Bangladesh especially from the Sylhet basin area. The present study was t h u s undertaken to estimate the key parameters for stock assessment such as the asymptotic length (L^), growth coefficient (K), total mortality (Z), n a t u r a l mortality (M), fishing mortality (F) and exploitation rate (E). Using these parameters the recruitment pattern was estimated. The yield per recruit analysis and the virtual population analysis (VPA) were also carried out.

Materials and methods

Length-frequency data of L. calbasu were collected fortnightly from the commercial catches at diferent landing sites around Sylhet district from January 1997 to December 1997. Samples

M. Alam et al.

(f L. calbasu were mainly obtained from sine catches. Random samples of 7,048 specimens were collected. Total length was measured in cm by a metre scale (lmm) size sranging from 8.0 to 48.0 cm. The weight was measured in g by a Salter spring balance from 149 random samples ranging from 75.0 to 1,170 g with corresponding length. The data were then pooled month-wise from different landing sites and subsequently grouped in to classes of two cm intervals. The data were analysed using the FiSAT (FAO-ICLARM Stock Assessment Tools) as explained in detail by Gayanilo Jr. et al. (1995) in the computer software package. Asymptotic length (L^) and growth coefficient (K) of the von Bertalanffy equation for growth in length were estimated by means of ELEFANI (Pauly and David, 1981, Saeger and Gayanilo, 1986). Additional estimates of L_^ and Z/K value were obtained by plotting T. minus U on L (Wetherall, 1986 as modified by Pauly, 1986), i.e., l.-L' + a + bU where, L^ = - a ^ and Z/K = -(l+b)/b where L is the mean length, computed from L' upward, in a given lengthfrequency sample while L' is the limit of the first length class used in computing a value of L. The growth performance of L. calbasu population in terms of length growth was compared using the index of Pauly and Munro (1984). i.e., 0' = LogjoK + 2Logio L^ Total mortality (Z) was estimated by length converted catch curve method. Natural mortality rate (M) was estimated using Pauly's empirical relationship (Pauly, 1980) i.e..

Logjo M = - 0.0066 - 0.279 Logjo L^ + 06543 Logjo K + 0.5634 Logm T where L^ is expressed in cm and T, the mean annual environmental temperature in "C which here is 27C. Fishing mortality (F) was obtained by subtracting M from Z and exploitation rate (E) was obtained from F/Z [E = F/Z = F/(F+M)] (Gulland, 1971). Recruitment patterns was obtained by backward projection on the length axis of a set of length-frequency data as described in the FiSAT routine. Relative yield per recruit Y/R and biomass per recruit (R/B) values as a function of E were determined from the estimated growth parameters and probability of capture by length (Pauly and Soriano, 1986). The calculations were carried out using the complete FiSAT software package. A l e n g t h s t r u c t u r e d VPA of L. calbasu was carried out with L_^=49.30, K=0.63/yr, M = l . l l , F=3.48, a^O.00927 and b=3.109 as inputs. The to value was taken as zero.

Results and discussion

Growth parameters: Growth parameters of von Bertalanffy growth formula for L. calbasu were estimated as L^ = 49.30 cm and K = 0.63/year. For these estimates through ELEFAN-I the response surface (R^^) was 0.165 for the curve. The computed growth curve produced with those parameters are shown over its restructured length distribution in Fig. 1. The Powell-Wetherall plot is shown in Fig. 2. The corresponding estimates of L^ and Z/K for L. calbasu are 49.78 cm and 1.137, respectively. This additional estimate of L^ is slightly higher t h a n

Population

dynamics

of Labeo calbasu

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1' I i l " i|i I i r T i I I I I I I ) I I I I I LI I J M 1,1 I Ji I i.r I ill I ..1 f ill I 1,1 r ill ,

Jan

Feb

Mar>

flpr>

May

Jan

Jul

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Fig. 1. Growth curve of Laheo calbasu (Hamilton) fi'oni Sylhet basin waters, Bangladesh by ELEFAN I superimposed on the length-frequency diagram (L__=49.30 cm and K=0.63/yr).

the L^ estimated through ELEFAN-I. The correlation co-efficient for the regression was 0.989 (a = 23.28 and b = -0.468). Calculated growth performance index (0) was found to be 3.185.
96

the regression was 0.999 (a = 18.27 and b = -4.59). The natural mortality rate was estimated from the empirical equation. Pauly (1980) suggested that this method gives a reasonable value of
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Fig. 2. Estimation of L^ and Z/K using the methods of Wetherall for Labco calbasu (Hamilton) in Sylhet basin waters, Bangladesh (estimated L=49.738 cm and Z/K=1.137).

Mortality: The mortality rates M, F and Z computed were 1.11, 3.48 and 4.59 respectively. The catch curve utilised in the estimation of Z is represented in Fig. 3. The darkened quadrilateral represents the points used in calculating Z through least squares lines regression. The blank circles represent points either not fully recruited on nearing to L^ and hence, discarded from the calculation. Goodness of fit to the descending right hand limits of the catch curve was considered. The correlation co-efficient for

10
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Fig. 3. Length converted catch curve of Labeo calbasu (Hamilton) in Sylhet b a s i n w a t e r s , Bangladesh.

M. Alam et al.

20

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Recruitment pattern: The recruitment pattern (Fig. 4) shows t h a t this species was recruited in the fishery during August to October with peak during August-September months. It is clear form Figure 1 t h a t spawning starts in the month of May. Yield-per recruit and biomass perrecruit: The relative yield-per-recruit and biomass-per-recruit were determined as a function of L^/L^ and M/K were 0.20 and 1.75, respectively. Fig. 5 shows that the present exploitation rate (E = 0.76) exceeds the maximum exploitation rate of E^^^ = 0.449. Virtual population analysis: The results of the length-structured VPA of L. calbasu are shown in Fig. 6. Values for the mean fishing mortality (F) and the mean exploitation rate (E) estimated by the analysis were 0.447 and 0.287, respectively. The estimated values for the exploitation rate (E) using the length converted catch curve a n d VPA were 0.76 and 0.287, respectively. This indicates that L. calbasu stocks in the Sylhet basin is under high fishing pressure.

Fig. 4. Recruitment p a t t e r n of Labeo calbasu (Hamilton) in Sylhet basin waters, Bangladesh.

M. The method of estimating M is widely used throughout the tropics where time series reliable catch and effort data and several years of Z values are not available. So the described method is the common way of estimating M and F. The fishing mortality rate (F) was taken by subtracting M from Z and was found to be 3.48. Exploitation rate: The rate of exploitation (E) was estimated as 0.76 from the study area. It appears that the stock of L. calbasu in the Sylhet basin exceed the maximum fishing pressure (E^^^ = 0.449) and fishing mortality seem to be of great concern (F = 3.48).

.25 .5 Exploitation

.75 r-lte

.3 i "tat i' on

.75 rAte

Fig. 5. Relative yield-per-recruit (left) and biomass-per-recruit (right) ofLabeo calbasu (Hamilton) of Sylhet basin waters, Bangladesh (L/L=0.20, M/K=1.75).

Population dynamics

of 1 ,abeo calbasu

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spawning occurs in May. Its fishing pressure (F = 3.48) is very high and need to he reduced for getting more sustained production. Some fishing restriction should be imposed to get higher fish yield from t h a t basin.

Acknowledgments
Fig. 6. Length-structured virtual population analysis of Laheo calbasu (Hamilton) of Sylhet basin waters, Bangladesh.

Length-weight relationship: For the study of the length-weight relationship a total of 149 specimens of L. calbasu for the individuals ranging in sizes from 16 to 46 cm in total length and weighing 75.0-1170.0 g were measured. From these, length-weight relationship were estimated, of the form W - aL'', using the logarithmic transformation LogW = IjOg a + b I.og I'L, where, a and b are constants estimated by linear regression of the log transformation varieties The regression takes the form: Log- W ^ -2.0330 + 3,109Log TL (r---0.992) 1) Fig. 7 corresponding to, W =- 0 00927*TL.;i,iu9..(2) Recruitment pattern of the fish revealed that it recruits into the fishery almost round tht; year and major

The authors express their deep gratitude to the Director General, Bangladesh Fisheries Research Institute (BFRI) and the Chief Scientific Officer of t h e R i v e r i n e S t a t i o n , Chandpur, BFRI for their keen interest and all out support towards this study. The authors are also grateful to the field staff, for their help during the sampling and data recording.

References
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I.
Fig. 7. Linearised tonu of lerij'.lli wei;;lit relation ship of Lahco calbasu (llaroihcjn) ofSylheL basin wa ters, Bangladesh.

M. Alam et al. Pauly, D. and N. David 1981. ELEFAN-i BASIC program for the objective extraction of growth parameters from length frequency data. Meeresforsch, 28(4) : 205211. Pauly D. and J.L. Munro. 1984 Once more, on the composition of growth in fish and invertebrates. Fishbyte, 2(1) : 21. Pauly D. and M.L. Soriano 1986. Some practical extensions to Beverton and Holt's relative jdeld-per-recruit model, p. 149-495. In : J.L. Maclean, L.B. Dizon and L.V. Hosillos (Eds.). First Asian Fisheries Forum, Asian Fisheries Society, Manila, Philippines. Rahman A.K.A. 1989. Freshwater Fishes of of Bangladesh. Published by the Zoological Society of Bangladesh. 64/4, Nayapalton, Dhaka-1000, Bangladesh, 364 pp. Saeger, J. and F.J. Gayanilo. 1986. A revised and graphics oriented version of ELEFAN, I and II. Basic programs for use on HP/ 86/87 microcomputers. Tech. Rep. Dept. Marine Fish., No. 8. Shafi, M. and M.M.A. Quddus 1975. The length-weight and length-girth relationship and condition factor in the carp, Laheo calbasu (Hamilton-Buchanan). Dhaka Univ. Stud. Pt. B, XXIII (1) : 4549. Shree Prakash and R.A. Gupta 1986. Studies on the comparative growth rate of three major carps of the Govinda lake. Indian J. Fish., 33(1) : 45-53. Wetherall, JA. 1986. A new method for estimating growth and mortality parameters from length-frequency data. Fishbyte, 4(1) : 12-15.