Estimating some population parameters and stock assessment of Dark Sleeper Odontobutis potamophila in the Gaosha River, Wuyuan County, Jiangxi Province, China

Abstract

A study was conducted to investigate the growth parameters, mortality and recruitment pattern of Odontobutis potamophila collected in the Gaosha river fish landing site, west part of Wuyuan County (Latitude: 29° 14' 29" N, Longitude: 117° 45' 49" E). O.potamophila were collected from November, 2013 to October, 2014. Growth parameters, asymptotic length (L) = 192mm and growth coefficient (k) = 0.22 year-1. Growth performance index(Ø’) =3.91, total mortality (Z) = 0.72 year-1, natural mortality (M) = 0.32 year-1, fishing mortality (F) = 0.40 year-1 and exploitation rate (E) = 0.55year-1.The estimated exploitation rate (E) has slightly exceeded the optimum value of E indicating this species was sustainable exploitation in the study area. The exploitation ratios were computed as Emax= 0.61, E10= 0.52, E50= 0.34. The length at first capture at 50%, (Lc) was 77 mm. The recruitment pattern of the species was found continuous all-round the year with one peak. The observation of the annual recruitment of O.potamophila found to occur from May to July. Steady biomass also increased with length class until 121-125 mm, and the total steady state biomass was found to be 2240 kg.