First record on size at sexual maturity and optimum catchable length of 10 marine fishes from the Bay of Bengal (Bangladesh) through multi-models approach: a key for sound fisheries management

Zannatul Mawa; Md Yeamin Hossain; Md Rabiul Hasan; Sumaya Tanjin; Md Ashekur Rahman; Most Shakila Sarmin; Kazi Ahsan Habib

doi:10.1007/s11356-021-13491-8

First record on size at sexual maturity and optimum catchable length of 10 marine fishes from the Bay of Bengal (Bangladesh) through multi-models approach: a key for sound fisheries management

Environ Sci Pollut Res Int. 2021 Jul;28(28):38117-38127. doi: 10.1007/s11356-021-13491-8. Epub 2021 Mar 16.

Authors

Zannatul Mawa¹, Md Yeamin Hossain^{2

3}, Md Rabiul Hasan¹, Sumaya Tanjin¹, Md Ashekur Rahman¹, Most Shakila Sarmin¹, Kazi Ahsan Habib⁴

Affiliations

¹ Department of Fisheries, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Rajshahi, Rajshahi, Bangladesh.
² Department of Fisheries, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Rajshahi, Rajshahi, Bangladesh. yeamin2222@yahoo.com.
³ Faculty of Fisheries, Kagoshima University, 4-50-20 Shimoarata, Kagoshima, 890-0056, Japan. yeamin2222@yahoo.com.
⁴ Department of Fisheries Biology and Genetics, Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Dhaka, Bangladesh.

PMID: 33725310
DOI: 10.1007/s11356-021-13491-8

Abstract

Appropriate management systems for the protection of fishes are mostly relying on the information of size at sexual maturity and optimum catchable length. The purpose of this research was to estimate the size at sexual maturity (L_m) and optimum catchable length (L_opt) of 10 marine fish species from the Bay of Bengal (Bangladesh) through multi-models using commercial catches from October 2019 to September 2020. Also, we calculated the L_m and L_opt of these species from worldwide water bodies based on maximum length (L_max). A total of 2967 specimens of 10 fish species were evaluated in the current study and total length (TL) was noted up to 0.1 cm using a measuring board, while body weight (BW) and gonad weight (GW) are weighed by digital electronic balance with 0.01 g accuracy. To assess the L_m, three different models such as (i) empirical model based on L_max, (ii) the relationship between TL (total length in cm) vs. GSI (gonadosomatic index in %), and (iii) logistic model were considered and L_opt was assessed based on L_∞. The estimated lowest L_m was 11.8 cm (L_max-based), 12.8 cm (TL vs. GSI), and 13.7 cm (logistic model) for Thryssa setirostris and highest L_m was 23.3, 20.5, and 22.0 cm for Priacanthus macracanthus through L_max, TL vs. GSI, and logistic-based models, respectively. From these three models, the lowest mean value of L_m was obtained for T. setirostris (12.7 cm) and highest was recorded for P. macracanthus (21.9 cm). Fifty percent of mature marine species was in 14.9 cm TL and 90% species was in 19.5 cm TL. The smallest L_opt was obtained as 13.4 cm TL for T. setirostris and largest was 28.2 cm TL for P. macracanthus. This study was generated data on L_m and L_opt for 10 newly marine species, which are globally absent. Therefore, this study will be helpful for developing sustainable management strategies and conservation of marine fishes through the implementation of mesh size based on the size at sexual maturity (L_m) and optimum catchable length (L_opt).

Keywords: Bay of Bengal; Marine fishes; Optimum catchable length; Size at sexual maturity.

MeSH terms

Animals
Bangladesh
Bays
Fisheries*
Fishes
Perciformes*