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Spawning times and early life history of Hilsa ilisha in Bangladesh

University of British Columbia

Sexual condition of female Hilsa was sampled from October 1983 to August 1984 from freshwater, estuarine and marine localities in Bangladesh. At Chandpur, on the River Meghna, changes in gonadosomatic index showed that early monsoon (June), late monsoon (October), and winter (February) are the major spawning periods. Ages of juvenile Hilsa were determined up to six months old (12 cm long) by counting daily growth rings of otoliths. Hatching dates of juveniles collected in different months were back calculated from otolith readings, and confirmed the existence of the three spawning peaks. Migratory movements of juvenile Hilsa in the River Meghna were studied from samples obtained by experimental beach seining, by experimental drift gill netting, and by fishermen's gear. Length-frequency analysis of fish from beach seines and from fishermen's catch indicated juveniles less than 8 cm in total length inhabit shore and shallow river areas (<10 ft depth). When juveniles attain a larger size (>7 cm) they migrate to the deeper river (>10 ft depth) in January. After reaching 12 cm, all disappeared from the deeper river in May. Their migration from the river towards the sea was indicated by the direction of gilling in experimental nets, and by mean length analysis of juveniles collected in the upper and downstream areas of the River Meghna.

Text

2010-05-13

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http://hdl.handle.net/2429/24688

Zoology

University of British Columbia

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