Age and growth of threatened bronze featherback, Notopterus notopterus in Gomti river, Lucknow (India)

Abstract

The bronze featherback, Notopterus notopterusis distributed in Ganga, Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna and Cauvery river systems and supports commercial riverine fisheries throughout South India. Body growth is an important population process in fish because it has major impact on the biomass development and reproduction. Unfortunately population of the featherback is declining year-by-year due to monsoon failure and human impacts. Since report on age and growth of Notopterus notopterusis lacking, the present study was undertaken to determine the age and growth of the bronze feather back from wild habitats of riverGomti by using scales. This study showed a welldefined growth pattern in wild population of Notopterus notopterus which will help the agencies in formulation of the strategies for conservation and rehabilitation of this species.