distribution and Abundance of Juvenile Fish Stocks in Korangi Creek

Abstract

Towards the East coast of Karachi, there is a network of creeks, which spreads from the main Korangi and Phitti creeks channels. These creeks then branch into number of smaller channels extending towards the Indus Delta and the Arabian Sea. The enomorous fish production of the Indian Ocean particularly of the coast of Pakistan depends on these creeks, which are breeding and nursing grounds of commercial species found along the Arabian Sea coast of Pakistan. The network of the Korangi system becomes more significant to the fishireies due to the sediment discharge by Indus River. There have been no any targeted studies carried out in the region except few studies that are on hydrogrpaphy and on Pollution discharged in the region. The primary objective of the present study was to quantify the existing fishing stocks, their density, seasonal occurrence, distribution and stability. During the studies data on Juvenile fish stocks and their seasonal distribution and abundance in the creek system was collected. The information will be part of P.hd and M.Phil thesis of two students who are enrolled at the Centre of Excellence in Marine Biology, University of Karachi. Sampling from Korangi and adjacent creeks started from June 2000 and continued until December 2002. The data on Juvenile fish stocks was collected from stations nos. 34-123 given in table 1, total 90 stations. Major localities covered during the sampling period are ; Korangi Creek (24˚48N 67 ˚ 16 E); Port Qasim (24 ˚ 46 N 67 ˚ 16 E); Shun creek (24 ˚ 44 N 67 ˚ 11 E); Thermal power station (24 ˚ 46 N 67 ˚ 22 E) and Rutto Kot (24 ˚ 44 N 67 ˚ 15 E). Gill nets with three diferent mesh size 3.5, 2.25 and 1.5 inched were used to catch adult and juvenile fishes found in the region. The fish species collected belonged to varied groups, pelagic and demersal and bottom residents. Total 72 (seventy two) species belonging to 30 families are collected, one species belonged to Elasmobranchii (cartilaginous fish) and the rest are bony fishes. This study gives basic information of juveniles and adults fish stocks, abundance in rank of their ocurences, total biomass of juvenile fish stocks and their seasonal occurrence during one and a half year sampling in the different localities of the Korangi creek system. The study of this nature has never appeared in this region. The study provides a concept for future planning and management in the region. The other part of the study on the reproductive biology and distribution of planktonic eggs sampled are being produced in the form of Ph.D. thesis and M. Phil thesis will be clupeiod fishes in their distribution and abundance.