ESTIMATION OF THEORETICAL HARVESTABLE SIZE OF INDIAN MAJOR CARPS IN VALLABH SAGAR RESERVOIR, GUJARAT (INDIA)

The present study describes the method and utility of theoretical harvestable size of Indian major carps (Catla catla, Labeo rohita, Cirrhinus mrigala) from a Vallabhsagar reservoir (Gujarat). For the study, scale samples and morphometric measurements were taken from catla (647), rohu (662) and mrigal (1053) during June 2012 to May 2013. During the investigation, the mean length and weight (78.760 cm and 7587.600 gm) in catla, (66.655 cm and 3956.700 gm) in rohu and (70.160 cm and 3697.0 gm) in mrigal were observed. The results revealed that the fishes of Vallabh Sagar can be harvested at +1 to +2 years of age in the length range 46.16-58.57 cm for catla, 40.68-51.56 cm for rohu and 40.7850.99 for mrigal. Such kind of study on Indian major carps of Vallabhsagar reservoir (Gujarat) was attempted for the first time and it will provide some basic information on fish biology, which would be helpful for the scientific management of fisheries in this water body.