Vol. 10, Issue 2, Part D (2025)

Author(s): Nanjala Veerabhadra Rao, Paulraj Jawahar, Natarajan Jayakumar, Hari Prasad Mohale, K Karuppasamy and C Prabhanjan Kumar Reddy

Abstract: The present study investigated the stock status of endangered fish, Eutropiichthys vacha species, in the Godavari River in Andhra Pradesh from February 2022 to July 2023. The length and weight relationship of E. vacharevealed a negative allometric (b<3) growth for both males and females. The 'b' regression coefficient for E. vacha male, female and pooled sex was 2.611, 2.711 and 2.569 respectively. The growth parameters asymptotic length (L∞) and growth coefficient (K) for E. vachawere calculated using the ELEFAN I algorithm. The asymptotic length for E. vacha was 28.40 cm. The growth coefficient (K) was estimated at 0.45. The mortality rates, namely total instantaneous mortality rate (Z), fishing mortality rate (F), and natural mortality rate (M) were calculated to be 1.66, 0.62, and 1.04. The present estimated exploitation ratio of E. vacha (E=0.37 yearˉˡ) was lower than the optimum exploitation ratio (E) of 0.5, indicating that the stock of E. vacha is not being overfished. The present findings will be essential for further studies and recommend a conservation strategy for the sustainable management of E. vacha in the Godavari River.