BREEDING SEASONALITY AND POPULATION DYNAMICS OF THE CATFISH Schilbe mystus (SCHILBEIDAE) IN THE CROSS RIVER, NIGERIA
Lebo, P.E., King, R.P., Etim, L., Akpan, B.E. and Jonathan, G.E.
Keywords: Breeding, population dynamics, Schilbe mystus Cross River estuary.
Published in Volume 7
download
Abstract:
Twelve consecutive months length frequency data (N = 6999) and FiSAT software were used in the study
of the dynamics of exploited population the catfish Schilbe mystus in the Cross River Nigeria. Variation
in monthly mean gonadosmtic index showed two peaks, March and September and this indicates that the
species spawned twice in a year. Fitting the seasonalized von Bertalantffy growth function to our length
frequency data gave the following growth parameters: L? = 38 cm, k = 0.33 y -1 , C = 0.42 and WP = 0.96.
The seasonalized length converted catch curve procedure gave the instantaneous total mortality
coefficient Z = 2.97 y -1 , the instantaneous natural mortality coefficient M = 0.81 Y -1 , the instantaneous
fishing mortality coefficient F = 2.16 y -1 and the current exploitation rate E = 0.73. This high value of E
points to the high fishing pressure on the stock. The analysis of probability of capture of each length class
showed that the length at first capture Lc 28.67cm. The predicted maximum exploitation rate of E max = 0.59.
This stock was deemed overexploited because E>E max . Relative yield isopleths were used to demonstrate the
response of relative yield per recruit of the fish to variation Lc and E. Suitable management procedure must be
instituted to avoid the collapse of the fishery.