Growth Pattern and Morphological Variation of Labeo calbasu Found in Indus River, Sindh-Pakistan

The present work reports the length–weight relationships (LWR) and condition factor relationships for Labeo calbasu collected from Upstream (Matyari) Kotri barrage at, River Indus, Pakistan, because stock assessment helps the fisheries managers to conserve the commercially important fish. Morphological characters of fish as well as Length-weight relationship are an important tool for fishery management. The results of LWR (W= aLb), for L calbasu.  Representing negative allometric growth pattern. LWRs and condition factor relationships were found significantly correlated. A total of 200 and 190 specimens from upstream and downstream were collected, respectively. The assessed values of length-weight correlation and condition factor were calculated as Kn=39.663 (LeCren), and K=11.915 (Fulton) for upstream and Kn=44.066 and K=13.872 for downstream. Length-weight was found with a strong correlation of n= 2.892, a=0.0235 with r2=0.934 for upstream population then the downstream population.  The results of this work would be beneficial for sustainable management as well as fishery managers. 

Economic analysis of Barramundi (Lates calcarifer) (Bloch 1790), in Pakistan and opportunities for its aquaculture development

1425-1434Barramundi, (Lates calcarifer) is one of the most commercially important fish species. In Pakistan, farming of this species is relatively new. Article delivers the economic analysis of Barramundi and its fishery resources in Pakistan. The analysis includes the capture production, aquaculture production and market price. The Capture production of Barramundi in Pakistan has shown a declining trend by average at 18 t y-1 from 605 t in 1986 to 121.2 t in 2018. Similarly, wholesale and retail market prices witnessed an increase from 2003 to 2018. During this period, the wholesale price rose to 384.3 PKR/kg from 69 PKR/kg, while the retail price surged to 395.2 PKR/kg from 97 PKR/kg. On the other hand, the increasing operational fishing fleets from 15513 (1990) to 30000 (2018) has reduced Fishery resources of barramundi i.e. from 312 ton to 130 and its body weight from 13.42 kg to 3.5 kg during the period from 1990 to 2018. On the contrary, aquaculture production registered a rising trend by average of 0.5 t y-1 from 05 t in 2009 to 8.2 t in 2018. The rise in aquaculture production of Barramundi is not satisfactory when compared to its growth rate in other countries like Bangladesh, Thailand, Australia, China, India etc. In this study, we find out the major causes of non-satisfactory rise in aquaculture production by the using AGR model. Results show that the main reasons beyond decline in the growth included inaccessibility of Barramundi Seed, unavailability of Barramundi Hatcheries and lack of government Support

Diversity of freshwater fish in the lower reach of indus river, sindh province section, pakistan

According to reports, the last comprehensive fish records from the Indus River were published in 1977. Although few recent studies have been conducted, they are limited to some confined localities, and hence there was a gap of comprehensive fish diversity analysis of the Indus River in Sindh province section. Therefore, the present investigation was performed to describe the fish fauna of the Indus River from its northern to its southern extremities. In order to establish fish diversity and distribution, the study was accomplished from June 2016 to May 2017 covering 8 sampling locations across the river. A total of 44 fish species, belonging to 35 genera, included in 18 families, and 9 orders were recorded. Family Cyprinidae was the most specious with 13 species followed by Bagridae and Cichlidae with 4 species each, and Siluridae with3 species. Alpha Diversity Indices study showed that the ichthyofauna diversity of the River was not high in comparison with previous studies. Shannon\u2019s index for the whole Indus River locations was 0.95 and the evenness index was 0.77. Sustained populations of exotic fish species were shown to have established in the Indus River