Assessment of Population Dynamics and Exploitation Rate of the Climbing Perch (Anabas testudineus, Bloch, 1792) for Fishery Resource Management in Huai Kho Reservoir, Na Chueak District, Maha Sarakham Province, Thailand

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This research focused on assessing the population dynamics and exploitation rate of the climbing perch in Huai Kho Reservoir to inform fishery management. A total of 336 climbing perch were sampled, with fork lengths ranging from 90 to 185mm (average: 130.82 ± 18.46mm) and weights ranging from 19.0 to 126.0g (average: 49.78 ± 21.69g). The growth performance index (ϕ) was calculated as 3.87 per year, with an asymptotic length (L∞) of 194.25mm and a growth coefficient (K) of 0.25. Capture probabilities were estimated as L25% = 107.18mm, L50% = 101.99mm, and L75% = 114.80mm. The length-weight relationship equation, W = 0.026938L¹˙⁵⁶⁹⁶³ (r² = 0.95), indicated a strong correlation between length and weight, with a b-value of less than 3.00, demonstrating negative allometric growth. Mortality rates included total mortality (Z) of 0.84 per year, natural mortality (M) of 0.45 per year, and fishing mortality (F) of 0.40 per year. Recruitment peaked from November to January. The exploitation rate (E) was found to be 0.47, lower than the maximum exploitation rate (Emax) of 0.702. The study estimated a total biomass of 1.90 tons of the climbing perch, suggesting the species is currently underexploited, with a higher natural mortality than fishing mortality, likely due to fish behavior and biology. To ensure sustainable fishery management, it is recommended that fishermen shift from using pelagic gillnet fishing to demersal gillnet fishing.

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