Growth, mortality, and stock assessment of brushtooth lizard fish Saurida undosquamis (Richardson, 1848) from Mumbai waters, northwest coast of India

Abstract

Stock characteristics <em>viz.</em> growth, mortality, and exploitation rate of <em>Saurida undosquamis </em>from Mumbai waters were studied based on commercial trawl landings during the period 2012-2015. Growth parameters (L∞, K, and t₀) were estimated at 365 mm, 0.75 yr^-1 and 0.00092 yr, respectively. Mortality parameters (Z, M, and F) were estimated at 4.70 yr^-1, 1.47 yr^-1 and 3.23 yr^-1 respectively. The longevity (t_max) was also estimated at 3.99 yr. The length at 1^st capture (Lc₅₀= 159.25 mm) was found to be lower than length at first maturity (Lm₅₀= 206 mm). The current exploitation rate (E_cur= 0.69) clearly indicated that the species being overexploited. The bio-economic stock assessment model showed that at the present fishing level, there is depletion in the spawning stock biomass and also lower economic revenue from the fishery. Hence, reducing the effort would help to maintain the fishery at a sustainable level.