Population Dynamics and Stock Assessment of Catla catla (Hamilton) in the Kaptai Reservoir, Bangladesh

Abstract

The dynamics and stock assessment of Catla catla in Kaptai Lake, Bangladesh is studied using length-frequency based analysis to evaluate growth parameters, mortality rates, exploitation rate, maximum sustainable yield (MSY) and the corresponding rate of exploitation at this level. The study revealed that the stock of C. catla is now more or less under optimum exploitation level. Any major change in the existing fishing level/exploitation will most likely result in a reduction in the yield per recruit and thereby hamper the MSY. Results obtained from the length weight relationship (LWR) analyses showed that the "Cube Law" could not be followed for C. catla (b = 3.20 -3.29) in the Kaptai Lake system showing allometric growth pattern with weight increasing at a relatively fast rate (b>3.0).