Age and growth of sharptooth catfish, Clarias gariepinus (Burchell, 1822) (Clariidae), in the Lower Okavango Delta, Botswana
Thethela Bokhutlo A B F , Olaf L. F. Weyl C , Ketlhatlogile Mosepele D and G. Glenn Wilson E
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A Botswana International University of Science and Technology, Private Bag 16, Palapye, Botswana.
B Department of Ichthyology and Fisheries Science, Rhodes University, PO Box 94, Grahamstown, 6140, South Africa.
C South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity, Private Bag 1015, Grahamstown, 6140, South Africa.
D Okavango Research Institute, University of Botswana, P/Bag 285, Maun, Botswana.
E Ecosystem Management, School of Environmental and Rural Science, University of New England, Armidale, NSW 2351, Australia.
F Corresponding author. Email: thethela.bokhutlo@gmail.com
Marine and Freshwater Research 66(5) 420-428 https://doi.org/10.1071/MF13322
Submitted: 3 December 2013 Accepted: 30 July 2014 Published: 8 January 2015
Abstract
Managing any inland fishery requires reliable age data and accurate estimates of growth rate. Clarias gariepinus, the largest catfish species in most tropical African floodplain river systems, is an important constituent of subsistence fishery catches. We used otolith-derived age estimates to describe patterns of age and growth for C. gariepinus from the Lower Okavango Delta in northern Botswana. Edge analysis of sectioned sagittal otoliths showed that growth zone deposition occurred during the annual flood peak between July and September. The maximum recorded age was 8 years. Growth was best described by the von Bertalanffy Growth Model of the form E[L|age] = 528.70(1 – e–0.72(age+1.35)). A comparison of growth parameters from this study with those from previous studies suggests two distinct populations of C. gariepinus between the Upper and Lower Okavango Delta, emphasising the importance of regional stock assessment for key fishery species. The fairly short life span and high variability in growth of C. gariepinus are important indicators that it is imperative to maintain natural habitat and flow regime for sustainable management of fishery resources in the Lower Okavango Delta.
Additional keywords: Boteti River, edge analysis, otoliths, periodic logistic regression, Thamalakane River.
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