Length–weight relationships of seven small indigenous fish species from the Tapti River in peninsular India

Abstract

Length–weight relationships of seven small indigenous fishes collected from the middle and lower stretch of the Tapti River in India were determined. The specimens were caught with drag nets (0 mm mesh size), gill nets (10–20 mm knot-to-knot mesh length) and scoop nets (0 mm) from the Maharashtra, and Gujarat state stretches of the Tapti River from November 2018 to December 2019. Digital calliper and digital balances were used to measure the total length (TL) and body weight (BW) of all fish specimens respectively. The growth coefficient b varied from 2.758 (Parambassis ranga) to 3.298 (Osteobrama cotio), and the LWRs were highly significant (p < .005). The present study established LWRs for the first time for seven fish species in the respective riverine habitat, including providing a new maximum length record for Corica soborna. The results of the present study will be useful for sustainable management and conservation of respective species in the river and its associated waterbodies.