Local Fish Research Articles

ASSESSING FISHING ACTIVITY, FISH PRODUCTION AND DEMAND IN ILU ABBA BORA ZONE, SOUTHWEST ETHIOPIA

The study was aimed to assess fishing activity, fish production and demand outlook in Ilu Abba Bora Zone, Oromia Region, southwest Ethiopia, to generate baseline data that would help in the proper and sustainable utilization of fish resources. Previous reports, field assessment, structured and semi-structured questionnaires and direct observation were employed for data collection. Five districts (Mettu, Yayo, BiloNopa, Bure and Sale Nono) were selected using purposive sampling technique. From each district, fishermen and households along and near riverine water bodies were selected purposively. The fishing activities of the area are aimed for subsistence by part-time fishermen and for local market during the dry season. The fishing gear commonly used are hooks of different sizes, traps (fish basket) and rarely gillnet. Birbira (Milletia ferruginea) is also used by fishermen in Sale Nono district. Though the severity of the constraints varies from one district to the other, the main fish production constraints in the area are low demand for fish, lack of awareness, lack of facilities, low profit, and long distance to market place. The fish demand and supply in the study area is unbalanced. Fresh whole fish, gutted and dried fish are mostly preferred fish products. Labeobarbus intermedius, Labeobarbus nedgia, Bagrus docmak and Oreochromis niloticus are the species preferred by consumers in the study area. Awareness creation and promotion of local fish farming is important to integrate fish in the community’s diet and to scale up fish demand and supply in the area.

Usage and coordination of governance principles to address proximate and distal drivers of conflicts in fisheries commons.

Commons' problems and solutions have the elements of local, proximate, and large-scale distal processes. Solutions, therefore, require accessing, implementing, and coordinating information and actions at multiple scales. Restoring commons, such as fisheries, will require a better understanding of how stakeholders access and use information at various scales to resolve governance and restrictions problems. In 179 household interviews, perceptions of fisheries conflicts and their causes were identified, and 16 management committee key informants described their methods for mediating hypothetical small-scale fisheries problems in Kenya. The 6 studied sites varied in human development and demographic contexts but had notable similarities that reflected a respondent's focus on localized, direct, and proximate fishing conflicts. The most cited problems included limited space, disagreement about gears, poor resource conditions, and locally inadequate benefits. The most cited sources of information were local households and the community, and there was considerably less acknowledgment of distal problems and solutions. Key informants selected a limited number of local community-focused solutions. For example, informants chose to mediate conflicts between neighbors with local community meetings rather than through formal national institutions. Therefore, distal solutions were likely to be perceived as ineffectual, possibly due to the challenges of polycentric governance coordination. However, widespread overfishing arises from overarching distal processes not fully amenable to local solutions. Therefore, a focus on local action is expected to limit the ability to address distal problems. These include conflicting values, demographic changes, supportive governance frameworks, emerging technologies, resolving conflicting local rules, fair between-group enforcement, responding to temporary shortages of fish, and intercommunity border and rule disputes. Improved coordination and integration of information and institutions to simultaneously address both proximate and distal common's problems are recommended.

Diversity, Abundance, and Local Use of Fishes in Lake Danao, Ormoc City, Philippines

Lake Danao lies within the Lake Danao Natural Park in Ormoc City, Leyte, Philippines. The lake provides a habitat for various aquatic flora and faunal species. However, existing data on fish assemblage in Lake Danao is scarce and outdated. This study determined Lake Danao’s diversity, abundance, and local use of fish. With the help of local fishers, fish samples were collected from different parts of the lake twice a month for 14 months (March 2021 to June 2022). In addition, an ethnoicthyological survey was conducted to supplement the information on the provenance, endemism, and local use of the fish species in Lake Danao. This study recorded eight species of fish in Lake Danao, and only two are considered native (Anguilla marmorata and Clarias batrachus). Only five species were obtained from the fishers throughout the entire sampling period. On average, Glossogobius giuris was the most abundant species (95.96%), while Channa striata was the least (0.07%). The low Shannon-Weiner diversity index (mean = 0.19) and high Simpson’s dominance index (mean = 0.92) indicate low diversity and dominance of other species (e.g. G. giuris). No significant difference was observed in the diversity, dominance, and evenness of fishes between the sampling months. All of the fish species were used as alternative food sources. With the dominance of introduced species, local authorities are strongly encouraged to strictly regulate the entry, possession, and cultivation of exotic fish in Lake Danao and to continue the aquatic biodiversity assessment and monitoring in the area.

Study of Mouth Depth for Some Local Cyprinidae

The aim of this study was to identify the depth of the mouth and its shape in some local fish belonging to the Cyprinidae family, and the extent to which the depth of the mouth is related to the way of feeding and the nature of food as well as the feeding habits of those species collected specifically from the Tigris River, the results showed a relationship of depth oral cavity with head length was highly significant at (P < 0.01) for all studied species. Also, there was a highly significant relationship between the height of the pharyngeal tooth-bearing bone and the depth of the oral cavity for fish of this local family.

INTENSITAS DAN PREVALENSI EKTOPARASIT PADA IKAN LELE DI BALAI BENIH IKAN LOKAL (BBIL) AIR MAWAR KOTA PANGKALPINANG

The research entitled "Intensity and Prevalence of Ectoparasites in Catfish at the Air Mawar Local Fish Seed Center (BBIL) Pangklapinang City" aims to determine the level of intensity, prevalence and types of ectoparasites that infect catfish in that location. Samples of 30 fish were taken randomly. In identifying ectoparasites, observations were made on the outside of the catfish's body, including mucus, fins and gills. Analysis of research data is descriptive and also presented in the form of pictures and tables. Data from the research results show that the types of ectoparasites that infect the external organs of the sampled fish include Dactylogyrus sp, Gyrodactylus sp, Argulus sp, Ichhtyobodo sp, Trichodina sp, and Cichlidogyrus sp. The prevalence rate of parasites that infect catfish is 90% with the category almost always and severe infection. The highest intensity of ectoparasites that attack catfish is by the parasite Dactylogyrus sp with an intensity value of 6.48 individuals per fish in the medium category, and the lowest intensity value is by the parasite Trichodina sp with an intensity value of 1 individual per fish. It is also known that the water conditions in the catfish pond This is not good for the survival of catfish, because the oxygen levels are low and the ammonia levels are high

Farmed Fish Market in Svay Rieng Town, Svay Rieng Province

The fisheries sector in Cambodia plays an important role in the economic, security, food, and nutrition sectors, including freshwater, seawater, and aquaculture. This study aims to 1) understand the type and size of farmed fish in Svay Rieng town, 2) understand the farmed fish market chain in Svay Rieng town, and 3) analyze the economic efficiency of selling farmed fish in Svay Rieng town. As a method, a survey was conducted by selecting 40 samples (fish vendors) from Veal Yun Market and Rong Bonler Market in Svay Rieng town by face-to-face interviewing. The results found that the activities of selling and consumption of farmed fish in the market are very active. Fish vendors sold many types of farmed fish. The fish types that the vendors sell the most are channa striata, clarias macrocephalus, channa micropeltes, red tilapia, pantius gorionothus, puntioplites, and other types. The fish market chain in Svay Rieng town is traded and trafficked from brokers to traders and fish vendors in the market and resold to wholesalers, retailers, and consumers. For the economic efficiency analysis of farmed fish sales in Svay Rieng town, there is a majority of vendors who are prosperous. To encourage local fish farming, the government should step up its efforts to support farmers who raise fish as a family and those who depend on fishing for their livelihood by educating and training them to cut back on imports.

SEBARAN DAERAH PENANGKAPAN IKAN PADA PERIKANAN SKALA KECIL DI KABUPATEN PANGANDARAN, JAWA BARAT

Capture fisheries in Pangandaran Regency, West Java are dominated by small-scale fishers. As many as 98% of fishing vessels in Pangandaran are under 5 GT. The small fishing vessels restrict Pangandaran fishers from operating further outside the Pangandaran Bay. As a result, the fishing pressure around the bay increases. This study aims to analyze the fishing grounds distribution of Pangandaran fishers. The selection of fishing locations was carried out using the participatory mapping method by asking fishers to show the fishing location on the map provided. A total of 163 respondents from 4 different fish landing bases were interviewed to obtain data on fishing positions and dominant caught fish. The results showed that the fishing grounds of Pangandaran Regency fishers are divided into Pangandaran Bay (east coast) and Parigi Bay (west coast) with the highest concentration of fishing grounds in the western part of both bays. Fishers choose this location because it is safer from waves and blocks the target fish that migrate from west to east. There were 25 species of fish caught by Pangandaran fishers, but only 13 species were dominant with Trichiurus savala and Pampus argenteus being at the top. The results of this study are expected to be the basis information for determining policies to develop the fishing capacity of coastal fisheries in Pangandaran to offshore, hence it can reduce fishing pressure in the coastal waters.&#x0D; Keywords: fishing ground, artisanal fisheries.

Evidence of Considerable Shifts in Catch Composition in the Artisanal Spiny Lobster Fishery in Kenya.

The artisanal lobster fishery in Kenya is small in world terms but important locally both in terms of supporting local fishing communities and generating revenue for the government. Despite its socioeconomic importance, detailed knowledge of many aspects of the fishery is lacking. The study reported herein aimed to investigate and provide information on the population structure and catch composition of spiny lobsters caught by artisanal fishers off six major landing sites along the coastline. A total of 2711 lobsters representing five palinurid species were collected during the study period (November 2000-March 2001). Among the five species, Panulirus longipes dominated the catches in Msambweni (75%) and Shimoni (58%), P. homarus in Mambrui (70%) and Kipini (72%), P. ornatus in Lamu (49%), and P. penicillatus in Kilifi (39%). P. versicolor was the rarest species observed in the catches across the six sites. The overall catch consisted of 33% P. ornatus, 32% P. homarus, 28% P. longipes, 6% P. penicillatus and 2% P. versicolor. Sitewise, Lamu contributed 31% of the overall catch, Kipini 23%, Shimoni 20%, Mambrui 13%, Msambweni 7%, and Kilifi 6%. A comparison of the results of this study and lobster abundance data from 1970s surveys revealed considerable shifts in the catch composition of artisanal landings over time. Future work on this fishery should concentrate on the lobster populations in the decades-old marine protected areas to obtain unfished reference data to assess the fishery and establish the underlying cause(s) of the observed shifts in catch composition.

Laju pertumbuhan benih ikan jelawat (Leptobarbus hoevenii Blkr.) dengan pemberian pakan berbasis tepung maggot

Hoven’s carp or the mad barb (Leptobarbus hoevenii Blkr.) is a species of local fish with slow growth. Maggot is a phase of the insect life cycle that can be developed as feed. Maggot in the form of flour is known to have a high protein content which can stimulate fish growth. This study aims to determine the growth rate of specific length (LPPS), growth rate of specific weight (LPBS), and the survival rate of jelawat fish juvenille treated with control feed (A), feed based on unfermented maggot flour (B) and feed based on fermented maggot flour (C). Based on the results, jelawat fish juvenille have the highest LPPS 0.88±0.04% and the highest LPBS 0.71±0.01% and the juvenille survival rate was 100% in treatment C, followed by treatment B with 0,49±0,04% of LPPS and 0.39±0.01% of LPBS and 95% of juvenille survival rate. The lowest growth was experienced by juvenille on control feed treatment (A) with 0.38%±0.01 of LPPS, 0.28±0.01% of LPBS, and 75% of juvenille survival rate. Based on this, the use of fermented maggot flour in feed has a significant effect on the growth rate of jelawat fish juvenille%.

Global containments and local leakages: Structural violence and the toxic flows of shipbreaking

This article explores how ship recycling—an essential part of the shipping economy—results in breaking up toxic vessels that leak hazardous materials into coastal communities and wetlands ecologies of South Asia. Drawing on multi-scaled and multisited ethnographic fieldwork with shipbreaking workers and local fishing communities in Chattogram, Bangladesh as well as with shipbreaking yard owners, maritime consultants, and government officials, we conceptualize toxic flows as a method to trace the lived experiences of those who are exposed to industrial pollution from shipbreaking. First, we propose that shipbreaking with its local toxic leakages constitutes a form of “structural violence” where violence is built into the logic of accumulation strategies in the maritime economy and shows up as unequal power relations that produce the conditions for unequal life chances. Second, we discuss Bangladesh’s recent efforts towards ratifying the Hong Kong Convention for the Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships and its potential to contain these toxic flows. Lastly, we explore how ethnographically tracing ‘toxic flows’ i.e., the movement of these toxic substances, allows us to shift scales of analysis and make visible the different ways shipbreaking is perceived to negatively affect health and social reproduction beyond the boundary of shipbreaking yards. We conclude that structural violence such as reduced life expectancies due to poisonous exposure risks becoming embedded in the logic of oceanic forms of accumulation without state regulatory enforcement and supervision.

Evaluating bycatch avoidance in the U.S. Atlantic sea scallop Placopecten magellanicus fishery

AbstractObjectiveThe effectiveness of bycatch avoidance programs relies on changes in fishing behavior in response to spatiotemporal information on bycatch patterns. A voluntary bycatch avoidance program in the U.S. sea scallop Placopecten magellanicus fishery designed to prevent triggering bycatch allocation of Yellowtail Flounder Limanda ferruginea was implemented and maintained concurrently with other management measures. Detecting bycatch avoidance behavior and relative effectiveness for bycatch mitigation presents an analytical challenge.MethodsWe evaluated effectiveness of the bycatch avoidance program over the course of 4 years based on fishing behavior relative to bycatch advisories. Using loglinear models to compare frequencies, we examined the relationship between bycatch reports from participating vessels and bycatch advisories throughout the year in each of the 4 years. We compared results from self‐reported catch to data from a mandatory observer program for participating and nonparticipating vessels in the bycatch avoidance program.ResultSignificant associations between bycatch advisories and fishing locations indicated bycatch avoidance behavior, while accounting for the effect of sea scallop density on fishing location decisions. Evidence of avoidance behavior was stronger in earlier years of the program and varied spatially. Decreasing avoidance behavior coincided with revised bycatch management measures, which appear to have altered the incentives for bycatch avoidance.ConclusionWe found differences in the fishing behavior of fishing captains who participated in the bycatch avoidance program when Yellowtail Flounder bycatch was perceived to threaten economic yield due to fishery closures. Bycatch mitigation program evaluations should consider the program objectives as well as incentives (and disincentives) in interpreting behavior.

A labeled data set of underwater images of fish and crab species from five mesohabitats in Puget Sound WA USA

The sustainable management of fisheries and aquaculture requires an understanding of how these activities interact with natural fish populations. GoPro cameras were used to collect an underwater video data set on and around shellfish aquaculture farms in an estuary in the NE Pacific from June to August 2017 and June to August 2018 to better understand habitat use by the local fish and crab communities. Images extracted from these videos were labeled to produce a data set that is suitable for use in training computer vision models. The labeled data set contains 77,739 images sampled from the collected video; 67,990 objects (fishes and crustaceans) have been annotated in 30,384 images (the remainder have been annotated as “empty”). The metadata of the data set also indicates whether a physical magenta filter was used during video collection to counteract reduced visibility. These data have the potential to help researchers address system-level and in-depth regional shellfish aquaculture questions related to ecosystem services and shellfish aquaculture interactions.

Effect of environmental drivers of fish assemblage and diversity patterns in temporal scale in Mongra Reservoir: A case study from one of the tributaries of Mahanadi Basin, Central India

AbstractInfluence of seasonal variations in environmental parameters on fish assemblage and species diversity patterns was studied in a tropical reservoir of Central India during March 2021 to February 2022. A total of 41 species belonging to 7 orders, 15 families and 29 genera were recorded with highest diversity during post‐monsoon season compared to the pre‐monsoon season and monsoon season. The fish abundance similarity between the monsoon and post‐monsoon reached a maximum of 89%. Seasonal variations in the mean species abundance, Simpson dominance index, Shannon diversity index, Pielou's evenness index and Margalef's richness index were determined. One‐way ANOVA revealed a significant difference (P &lt; 0.05) at the temporal scale. There was a significant seasonal difference in species abundance (P = 0.0006) and evenness index (P = 0.02) among the diversity indices. During the study period, three ‘vulnerable’ species, three ‘near threatened’ species and two ‘endangered’ species were caught. Carnivore dominance was evident throughout the year in the trophic guild of fishes. The Pearson correlation test revealed that water pH, dissolved oxygen, sediment organic carbon and clay percentage were positively correlated to all four diversity indices. Simpson and Margalef species richness diversity indices were positively correlated to sediment pH. Fish abundance was positively associated with sediment pH, silt, phosphorus and nitrogen content. Canonical correspondence analysis was used to investigate the relationships between fish assemblages and environmental conditions. Among the 19 physicochemical parameters, nine (dissolved oxygen, total dissolved solids, conductivity, transparency, hardness, phosphate and chlorophyll‐a, sediment nitrogen and phosphorus) characteristics were shown to be statistically significant (P &lt; 0.05) in determining fish diversity. Dissolved oxygen, total dissolved solids, conductivity, transparency, hardness, phosphate and chlorophyll‐a of water and sediment nitrogen and phosphorus qualities were the key factors for the species abundance. The reservoir boasts a diverse fish population that allows multi‐species fishing and generates revenue for numerous local fishers. Fish habitats should be protected in order to maintain diversity and long‐term ecological benefits.

Re-thinking recreational fishing – how a natural disaster presents insights and opportunities for achieving sustainability and equity objectives

Pāua (abalone) are a treasured natural resource that supports a recreational fishery worth $2 million annually to the local economy of the Kaikōura district in New Zealand. From 2016, the fishery was closed for 5 years in response to widespread mortality caused by co-seismic uplift in the 7.8 Mw Kaikōura earthquake. The fishery re-opened in 2021 for three months with a recreational fishing allocation of 5 tonnes. We constructed scenario models informed by fishing pressure observations and show that this catch target was severely exceeded (by a factor of ∼9). We then evaluated alternative management settings involving daily bag limit (DBL) adjustments and temporal controls on the open season. Only the most drastic modelled scenarios could achieve the 5 t allocation with similar levels of daily fishing effort showing the need for a greater focus on fishing effort to achieve sustainable management. Severely reduced DBLs (1–2 pāua) were required in all scenarios suggesting a need for significant departure from this management focus since very low DBL settings force poor cost-return ratios on fishers. Instead, temporal controls that shift opening times away from high visitation periods provide a means of maintaining modest DBLs outside of longer-term protected areas. These seasonal timing strategies can also support a greater proportion of the harvest accruing to local fishers thereby influencing benefit-sharing aspects of the recreational fishery. We discuss insights for equitable solutions to potential influxes of fishing effort and highlight the opportune aspects of disaster recovery contexts for conceiving and implementing new policy directions.

Predisposing Factors that Promote Prevalence of Heavy Metals Assimilation and Bioaccumulation in Aquatic Medium and amongst Fishes

The degree of heavy metals assimilation and bioaccumulation in fish tissues (muscles, gills, liver, and kidneys), amongst scale-less fishes- Chrysichthys macrotis, Chrysichthys nigrodigitatus, Clarias gariepinus and Heterobranchus longifilis, -scaly fishes- Cynoglossus senegalensis, Oreochromis aureus, O. niloticus, Lutjanus fulgens, Pomadasys rogeri, and Tilapia galilea, water columns and sediments, were investigated. Heavy metals assimilation and bioaccumulation varied among organisms with or without scales, tissue types, and fish location (water column &amp; sediments) and pollution level. Fishes with scales had lower concentrations of heavy metals than scale- less fishes. The scalier the fish, the lower the metal assimilation and bioaccumulation. As expected, trace metals were generally lower in muscles than liver, and kidney. Liver had highest followed by kidney, gills and then muscles. Fish trophic level (water column or sediments) and water pollution levels affected heavy metal concentrations. Concentrations were always more in sediments than water column or tissues. The more polluted the water, the more the assimilation and accumulation of trace metals.

Effect of Foeniculum vulgare Mingled Diet upon Growth, Reproduction and Spawning Performance of Guppy Fish

Naturally breeding fish cannot meet the demand of humans. So induced breeding is essential to fulfill this demand. Induced breeding ensures a timely supply of fish seeds having desired characteristics and different techniques can be used for this purpose. In this perspective synthetic hormones, extracts of pituitary hormones, Gonadotropin-releasing hormones, and sometimes Human chronic gonadotropin are used as a spawning inducer for fishes. Plant extracts can also be used as it is a new technique which could be used in aquaculture. The basic aim of our study was to enhance the growth as well as to check the effect of the traditional herb Foeniculum vulgare on the reproductive performance of Poecilia reticulata.&#x0D; Methodology: Samples were collected from a local fish shop in Sargodha. Ethanolic extract of Foeniculum vulgare seeds was prepared and mixed with different commercial feed. This feed was given to fish for 90 days to test the effect of Foeniculum vulgare seed extract on growth and reproduction performance. Water quality parameters were also maintained and recorded daily. Fecundity and Gonad somatic index were measured after dissection by removing the ovaries. Fecundity was calculated by counting the number of larvae and eggs seen with the naked eye. The hatching rate was measured by counting the number of hatching in each spawning.&#x0D; Results: According to the growth results, different levels of fennel seed extract has a significant effect on weight gain, length gain and survival rates of the fish in different groups. Statistical analysis cleared that T2 showed the highest weight and length gain. The feed Conversion Ratio decreased significantly. Results of reproduction parameters showed that the highest absolute fecundity (9.4 ± 0.19), GSI (8.69 ± 0.2) and spawning have increased in T2 followed by T1, T3, and control respectively. The observation of present research shows that Foeniculum vulgare seed extract can act as an estrogenic compound and growth promoter in commercial aquaculture.

Capture of wild juveniles, growth and spawning of the southwestern Atlantic wreckfish (Polyprion americanus) in Argentina

Wreckfish (Polyprion americanus) is a marine fish of great interest as a new aquaculture species due to its easy adaptation to farming conditions, rapid growth and market price. In the Southwestern Atlantic Ocean, the species forms a genetic stock different from that of the Northern Hemisphere and also to populations of the South Pacific. This study presents the research conducted in Argentina from 2011 to 2020 on the development of a wreckfish broodstock from juvenile specimens. Wreckfish (n = 21) were caught with fishing rods at depth between 18 and 75 m depth, off the coast of Buenos Aires Province, Argentina (37°30′S - 39°00′S). All fish suffered barotrauma, but specimens captured at a depth < 45 m and whose swim bladders were deflated by puncture had a survival rate > 90%. Juvenile wreckfish (n = 12) with an initial body weight of 2–3 kg were kept in a recirculating aquaculture system (RAS) and fed local fish for 36 months. During this on-growing stage, a natural photoperiod regime with reduced light intensity was accompanied by seasonal variations in the RAS's thermal regime (14–19 °C). From then on, a maturity and reproductive protocol was implemented, where the temperature was lowered (12–17 °C) and the diet was complemented with a formulated semi-moist feed. Juvenile wreckfish grew fast, gaining about 2.5 kg in 11 months with a specific growth rate (SGRBW) of 0.2% day−1 and reaching 10–12 kg in 36 months. There was no significant difference in growth performance between sex groups during the on-growing stage. However, from months 36 to 57, the SGRBW of females (0.058 ± 0.008% day−1) was significantly higher than males (0.035 ± 0.005% day−1). After 67 months in captivity, the first natural spawning was achieved in a communal tank with a sex ratio 4 females: 6 males. Two consecutive spawning seasons were analysed, which showed a large daily variation in total number of eggs, percentage of floating eggs (potentially viable eggs) and spawning intervals. A marked improvement in spawning performance was observed from one season to the next. In the first season, a total production of 5.21 million eggs was reached, of which only about 2.7% were floating, while in the second season the values increased to 13.23 million eggs and 32.6%, respectively. We have successfully developed a broodstock of wreckfish capable of achieving natural spawning. Further research is needed to obtain reliable spawning and large production of high-quality eggs.

Forty Years of No-Take Protection Preserves Local Fish Diversity in a Small Urban Marine Protected Area

Small no-take marine protected areas (MPAs) in urban settings can fail to adequately protect biodiversity due to the combined effects of illegal fishing and species emigrating outside the protected area boundaries. Further assessment of the effectiveness of these areas is needed to provide insights into how they can best be managed to generate conservation benefits. The Fly Point no-take MPA in Port Stephens, New South Wales, Australia, was used as a case study, with the objective of examining whether a small urban no-take MPA can produce conservation benefits, despite the handicaps imposed by its size and location. Diver-based underwater visual census data, recording fish species and abundances, was obtained from 434 surveys conducted in Port Stephens (2009–2022) at three sites within the Fly Point no-take MPA and at three surrounding sites open to fishing. These data were analysed using permutational multivariate analysis of variance to determine whether no-take protection significantly benefited fish species richness and diversity. We found significantly higher species richness for sites in the no-take MPA than in surrounding areas and significant differences in assemblages between no-take and fished areas, driven in part by greater abundances of two fishery-targeted species in the no-take MPA (Acanthopagrus australis and Scorpis lineolata). Generally, fish diversity was also significantly higher for sites within the no-take MPA, although diversity was also high in fished sites adjacent to the no-take MPA. Study results demonstrate that small urban no-take MPAs can provide conservation benefits, especially when these areas have been protected for more than a decade and where high visibility and local stewardship enable adequate enforcement of no-take restrictions. Consequently, planning for MPAs in urban areas should endeavour to ensure high levels of public support and, ideally, should situate MPAs in highly visible locations, in order to maximise their conservation outcomes.

Biometric Length Weight Relationships of the Pool Barb Puntius sophore (Hamilton 1822) (Cyprinidae) from Ujani Wetland of Maharashtra, India

The present study explains biometric Length weight relationships (LWRs) of Puntius sophore (Hamilton 1822) from the Ujani wetland of Maharashtra, India. A total 213 specimens collected from local fish market of Bhigwan during February 2022 to January 2023. Individual fish measurements of the total length (TL, cm), standard length (SL, cm) and fresh total body weight (Wt. g) were measured using a digital caliper and a weighing machine respectively. Puntius sophore, scientifically classified as an ornamental fish belonging to the Cyprinidae family, is renowned for its striking chromatic attributes, diminutive dimensions, and adaptability to constrained aquatic habitats. Despite its modest size and ossified structure, this species possesses nutritional significance. Puntius sophore boasts a wide geographic distribution encompassing India, Pakistan, China, and select regions within Southeast Asia. Due to limited manpower, we sourced specimens from the market. In the study area, the species was collected using traditional fishing methods, such as the "jhaki jal" (cast net) and "tar jal" (square lift net). The slope of the log-transformed linear regression (b) values are 2.8085, The b value exponent for study species is significantly lying within the recommended value of 2.5 – 3.5, while the coefficient of determination (R2) is 0.82 indicated the proper fitness of the fish in concern of growth and health of the study species. Fulton’s condition factor (K) value for present study is greater than 1, indicates fish in healthy environment. The result provides baseline information for the sustainable management and conservation of the studied species.

First genetic record and phylogenetic relationship of Rasbora einthovenii (Bleeker, 1851) (Cyprinidae : Danioninae) from Bangka Island, Indonesia

Brilliant Rasbora (Rasbora einthoveni) called “Seluang” is the one of local fish in Bangka Island. This fish widely distributes from Malaysia Peninsular, Sumatera (North Sumatera-Lampung Province), Kalimantan and the record of morphological character is until Sri Lanka, Laos to Thailand. The genetic status of this fish was unrecorded from Bangka Island. This research aimed to record the genetic status of Rasbora einthovenii compared with the same species in another region using cytochrome oxidase c subunit one (COI) gene. Analysis of maximum likelihood phylogenetic reconstruction of the Kimura 2-parameter model, which is implemented in MEGA 10 with 1000 replicates bootstrapping data sets. The result showed that phylogenetic tree of Rasbora einthovenii from Bangka Island is related closely with the sample from Selangor, Malaysia, and Aquarium Retailers in UK with the genetic distance about 0% means very similar. The samples from Pahang, Malaysia showed the genetic distance is about 3% and samples from Jambi, Indonesia is about 6%. It means that the genetic profile of Rasbora einthovenii from Bangka Belitung Island are the same species as well as from Selangor, Malaysia also the samples from Aquarium Retailers in UK.