Length-Based Stock Assessment of Smith's Barb, Puntioplites proctozystron (Bleeker, 1865) (Cyprinidae) and Asian Redtail Catfish, Hemibagrus nemurus, (Valenciennes, 1840), (Bagridae) in a Multipurpose Reservoir in Thailand

Abstract

Catches from inland fisheries in Thailand are about 200,000 tonnes annually and plays an important role in food security and subsidiary income. However, fish stocks are seldom assessed because of the lack of catch and effort data. In this study, two fish stock assessment models, viz., relative yield per recruit and length-based spawning potential ratio, were used to evaluate the status of two species as well as to highlight their applications to datalimited situation in Thailand. The study was conducted at Kangkrajan Reservoir, Thailand, for two targeted species, viz., Smith's barb, Puntioplites proctozystron (Bleeker, 1865) and Asian redtail catfish, Hemibagrus nemurus (Valenciennes, 1840) using length frequency data. The data were collected throughout 2019. Both species showed isometric growth. Von Bertalanffy growth parameters were estimated. Asymptotic length, curvature parameter and theoretical age at length zero were 36.2 cm TL, 0.39 yr-1 and -0.28 yr for P. proctozystron, respectively, and 63.2 cm TL, 0.37 yr-1 and -0.32 yr for H. nemurus. The exploitation rates reveal that both species are slightly overfished. Sizes at 50 % maturity and 50 % selectivities were 17.8 and 23.5 cm TL for P. proctozystron, respectively, and 15.6 and 20.8 cm TL for H. nemurus. Considering both parameters, the size at first capture to sustain the fisheries of P. proctozystron and H. nemurus should be >18 cm and >30 cm, respectively, which can be achieved by mesh-size regulations.