Assessment of population parameters of Indian major carps and common carp in a culture based reservoir

Abstract

Length frequency data of fin clipped Indian major carps and common carp stocked in Thirumoorthy Reservoir (388 ha at full rreservoir level), Tamil Nadu were analysed by using ELEFAN to estimate the von Bertalanffy growth parameters and mortality rates. The high values of growth coefficient (K > 0.845) and asymptotic length (Lâˆ> 567.5 mm) estimated for these fishes indicated the effectiveness of the stocking density at the rate of 395 no. /ha in this culture based fisheries system. The lower natural mortality rate describes the higher survival rate of advanced fingerlings of >100 mm size. Based on the recapture rate of stocked fishes, the strategies for optimum stocking to be adopted in the reservoir have been analysed.