Growth, Mortality and Recruitment Pattern of Longsnouted Catfish, Arius argyropleuron (Valenciennes, 1840) in Kuala Muda and Merbok, Kedah

Abstract

A study was conducted to investigate the growth parameters, mortality and recruitment pattern of longsnouted catfish, Arius argyropleuron collected at Kuala Muda and Merbok estuary fish landing site, northern part of Peninsular Malaysia. A. argyropleuron were collected from March 2009 to December 2009. The length-frequency data was analyzed using FAO-ICLARM Stock Assessment Tools (FiSAT) software. Bhattacharya’s plot produced  two groups of A. argyropleuron at modal length 11.13 ± 1.28 cm and 25.10 ± 2.32 cm. Population parameters were estimated by using various models including Powell-Wetherall plot, ELEFAN I , growth performance index, mortality estimation and recruitment pattern. Overall, growth parameters; asymptotic length (L?) = 34.26 cm and growth coefficient (K) = 0.7 year^-1. Growth performance index (Ø’) = 2.915, total mortality (Z) = 2.56 year^-1, natural mortality (M) = 1.39 year^-1, fishing mortality (F) = 1.17 year^-1 and exploitation rate (E) = 0.46 year^-1. The length at first capture at 50%, (Lc) was 24.56 cm. The observation of the annual recruitment of A. argyropleuron was found to occur in two pulses in January and August.

Keywords: Arius argyropleuron, growth, mortality, recruitment pattern