Assessment of the Fish Stock Status of the Spangled Emperor Lethrinus nebulosus Along the Coast of Balochistan, Pakistan
Abstract
:1. Introduction
2. Materials and Methods
2.1. Area of Study
2.2. Data Source
2.3. Sample Collection
2.4. Method for Estimating CMSY and BSM
2.5. Prior Biomass Ranges
2.6. Method for Estimating Length-Based Bayesian Biomass (LBB)
3. Results
3.1. Stock Status from Catch and Resilience
3.2. Approaches of CMSY and BSM for Fishery Reference Points (BRPs)
3.3. Dynamics Response of LBB
4. Discussion
4.1. Stock Status Analysis by CMSY
4.2. Stock Status Analysis by Bayesian Biomass Based on Length–Frequency (LBB)
4.3. Notable Outcomes from Previous Studies
5. Conclusions
Author Contributions
Funding
Data Availability Statement
Conflicts of Interest
References
- Worm, B.; Hilborn, R.; Baum, J.K.; Branch, T.A.; Collie, J.S.; Costello, C.; Fogarty, M.J.; Fulton, E.A.; Hutchings, J.A.; Jennings, S.; et al. Rebuilding global fisheries. Science 2009, 325, 578–585. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Hicks, C.C.; Cohen, P.J.; Graham, N.A.J.; Nash, K.L.; Allison, E.H.; D’Lima, C.; Mills, D.J.; Roscher, M.; Thilsted, S.H.; Thorne-Lyman, A.L.; et al. Harnessing global fisheries to tackle micronutrient deficiencies. Nature 2019, 574, 95–98. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Abbott, J.K.; Sumaila, U.R. Reducing marine plastic pollution: Policy insights from economics. Rev. Environ. Econ. Policy 2019, 13, 327–336. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Barange, M.; Merino, G.; Blanchard, J.L.; Scholtens, J.; Harle, J.; Allison, E.H.; Allen, J.I.; Holt, J.; Jennings, S. Impacts of climate change on marine ecosystem production in societies dependent on fisheries. Nat. Clim. Change 2014, 4, 211–216. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Thiel, M.; Luna-Jorquera, G.; Álvarez-Varas, R.; Gallardo, C.; Hinojosa, I.A.; Luna, N.; Miranda-Urbina, D.; Morales, N.; Ory, N.; Pacheco, A.S.; et al. Impacts of marine plastic pollution from continental coasts to subtropical gyres—Fish, seabirds, and other vertebrates in the SE Pacific. Front. Mar. Sci. 2018, 5, 238. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Hilborn, R.; Walters, C.J. Quantitative fisheries stock assessment: Choice, dynamics and uncertainty. Rev. Fish Biol. Fish. 1992, 2, 177–178. [Google Scholar]
- Barman, P.P.; Karim, E.; Khatun, M.H.; Rahman, M.F.; Alam, M.S.; Liu, Q. Application of CMSY to estimate biological reference points of Bombay duck (Harpadon neherus) from the Bay of Bengal, Bangladesh. Appl. Ecol. Environ. Res. 2020, 18, 8023–8034. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Gulland, J.A. Fish Stock Assessment: A Manual of Basic Methods; Wiley: New York, NY, USA, 1983. [Google Scholar]
- Wang, Y.; Wang, Y.; Liu, S.; Liang, C.; Zhang, H.; Xian, W. Stock assessment using LBB method for eight fish species from the Bohai and Yellow Seas. Front. Mar. Sci. 2020, 7, 164. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Barman, P.P.; Liu, Q.; Al-Mamun, M.A.; Schneider, P.; Mozumder, M.M.H. Stock Assessment of Exploited Sardine Populations from Northeastern Bay of Bengal Water, Bangladesh Using the Length-Based Bayesian Biomass (LBB) Method. J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2021, 9, 1137. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Chong, L.; Mildenberger, T.K.; Rudd, M.B.; Taylor, M.H.; Cope, J.M.; Branch, T.A.; Wolff, M.; Stäbler, M. Performance evaluation of data-limited, length-based stock assessment methods. ICES J. Mar. Sci. 2020, 77, 97–108. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Noman, M.; Mu, T.Y.; Abbas, S.; Mohsin, M.; Mehak, A. Estimation of maximum sustainable harvest levels of sea catfishes in Sindh, Pakistan. J. Anim. Plant Sci. 2018, 28, 1348–1356. [Google Scholar]
- Jarwar, A.A. A status overview of fisheries and aquaculture development in Pakistan with context to other Asian countries. Aquac. Asia 2008, 13, 13–18. [Google Scholar]
- Achakzai, J. Fisheries Development: Potential Area to Combat Poverty in Costal Belt of Balochistan. Balochistan Rev. 2010, 23, 27–35. [Google Scholar]
- Watson, R.; Pauly, D. Systematic distortions in world fisheries catch trends. Nature 2001, 414, 534–536. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Pauly, D.; Zeller, D. Catch reconstructions reveal that global marine fisheries catches are higher than reported and declining. Nat. Commun. 2016, 7, 10244. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Khan, M.W. Country Review: Pakistan. In Review of the State of World Marine Capture Fisheries Management: Indian Ocean; De Young, C., Ed.; FAO: Rome, Italy, 2006; pp. 281–296. [Google Scholar]
- Watson, R.A.; Cheung, W.W.; Anticamara, J.A.; Sumaila, R.U.; Zeller, D.; Pauly, D. Global marine yield halved as fishing intensity redoubles. Fish Fish. 2013, 14, 493–503. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Sumaila, U.R.; Zeller, D.; Hood, L.; Palomares, M.L.; Li, Y.; Pauly, D. Illicit trade in marine fish catch and its effects on ecosystems and people worldwide. Sci. Adv. 2020, 6, eaaz3801. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Teh, L.S.L.; Cheung, W.W.L.; Christensen, V.; Sumaila, U.R. Can we meet the target? Status and future trends for fisheries sustainability. Curr. Opin. Environ. Sustain. 2017, 29, 118–130. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Hilborn, R.; Amoroso, R.O.; Anderson, C.M.; Baum, J.K.; Branch, T.A.; Costello, C.; de Moor, C.L.; Faraj, A.; Hively, D.; Jensen, O.P.; et al. Effective fisheries management instrumental in improving fish stock status. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 2021, 117, 2218–2224. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Forskål, P. Descriptiones Animalium, Avium, Amphibiorum, Piscium, Insectorum, Vermium: Quae in Itinere Orientali Observavit, ex officina Mölleri, 1775.
- Carpenter, K.E.; Allen, G.R. Emperor fishes and large-eye breams of the world. FAO Fish. Synop. 1989, 9, I. [Google Scholar]
- Fischer, W.; Bianchi, G. FAO Species Identification Sheets for Fishery Purposes—Western Indian Ocean: Fishing Area 51; Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA): Copenhagen, Denmark, 1984. [Google Scholar]
- Froese, R.; Pauly, D. Fishbase. Available online: https://fishbase.mnhn.fr/search.php (accessed on 5 January 2022).
- Kulbicki, M.; Bozec, Y.M.; Labrosse, P.; Letourneur, Y.; Mou-Tham, G.; Wantiez, L. Diet composition of carnivorous fishes from coral reef lagoons of New Caledonia. Aquat. Living Resour. 2005, 18, 231–250. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Ameer Hamsa, K.M.S.; Mohamad Kasim, H. The perch fishery by traditional traps at Kilakarai (Gulf of Mannar) and some aspects of biology of Lethrinus nebulosus (Forskal). CMFRI Bull. Perch Fish. India 1994, 47, 98–105. [Google Scholar]
- Grandcourt, E.M.; Al Abdessalaam, T.Z.; Al Shamsi, A.T.; Francis, F. Biology and assessment of the painted sweetlips (Diagramma pictum (Thunberg, 1792)) and the spangled emperor (Lethrinus nebulosus (Forsskål, 1775)) in the southern Arabian Gulf. Fish. Bull. Natl. Ocean. Atmos. Adm. 2006, 104, 75. [Google Scholar]
- Taghavi Motlagh, S.A.; Vahabnezhad, A.; Seyfabadi, S.J.; Ghodrati Shojaei, M.; Hakimelahi, M. Growth, mortality and spawning season of the spangled emperor (Lethrinus nebulosus Forsskal, 1775) in coastal waters of Hormozgan Province in the Persian Gulf and Oman Sea. Iran. J. Fish. Sci. 2010, 9, 161–172. [Google Scholar]
- Marriott, R.J.; Adams, D.J.; Jarvis, N.D.C.; Moran, M.J.; Newman, S.J.; Craine, M. Age-based demographic assessment of fished stocks of Lethrinus nebulosus in the Gascoyne Bioregion of Western Australia. Fish. Manag. Ecol. 2011, 18, 89–103. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Vasantharajan, M.; Jawahar, P.; Francis, T.; Venkatasamy, M.; Santhoshkumar, S. Age, growth and mortality characteristics of Lethrinus nebulosus (Forsskal, 1775) in Thoothukudi Coast of Tamilnadu, India. SKUAST J. Res. 2012, 14, 9–16. [Google Scholar]
- Vasantharajan, M. Lethrinid Fishery and Its Management in Thoothukudi Coast. Ph.D. Thesis, Fisheries College and Research Institute, Tamil Nadu Fisheries University, Tamil Nadu, India, 2012. [Google Scholar]
- Al-Qishawe, M.M.; Ali, T.S.; Abahussain, A.A. Population parameters and stock assessment of spangled emperor Lethrinus nebulosus (Forsskal, 1775) in Jubail Marine Wildlife Sanctuary, Saudi Arabia. Biol. Appl. Environ. Res. 2017, 1, 1–16. [Google Scholar]
- Lidour, K.; Vorenger, J.; Béarez, P. Size and weight estimations of the spangled emperor (Teleostei: Lethrinidae: Lethrinus nebulosus) from bone measurements elucidate the fishing grounds exploited and ancient seasonality at Akab (United Arab Emirates). Int. J. Osteoarchaeol. 2018, 28, 681–694. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Vasantharajan, M.; Jawahar, P.; Sundaramoorthy, B.; Ramyalakshmi, P. Stock assessment and exploitation status of Lethrinus nebulosus (Lacepede, 1802) exploited off Thoothukudi coast, Tamil Nadu, India. Indian J. Mar. 2019, 48, 825. [Google Scholar]
- Baloch, A.; Zhang, K.; Kalhoro, M.A.; Memon, A.M.; Kalhoro, M.T.; Buzdar, M.A.; Razaaq, S. Preliminary investigations on stock analysis of tigertooth croaker (Otolithes ruber) from Balochistan coast, Pakistan. JAPS J. Anim. Plant Sci. 2020, 30, 1309. [Google Scholar]
- Razzaq, S.; Kalhoro, M.A.; Memon, A.M.; Buzdar, M.A.; Shafi, M.; Saeed, F.; Baloch, A. Fishery stock assessment of Megalaspis cordyla by using non-equilibrium surplus production models in the Arabian Sea Coast of Pakistan. JAPS J. Anim. Plant Sci. 2019, 29, 132–140. [Google Scholar]
- Afzaal, Z.; Kalhoro, M.A.; Buzdar, M.A.; Tariq, S.; Shafi, M.; Nadeem, A.; Imran, S.; Saeed, F.; Sohail, M.; Hassan, R.; et al. Carapace length-weight and carapace length-width relationship of blue swimming crab from Pakistani waters. Indian J. Geo-Mar. Sci. 2018, 47, 890–896. [Google Scholar]
- Afzaal, Z.; Kalhoro, M.A.; Buzdar, M.A.; Nadeem, A.; Saeed, F.; Haroon, A.; Ahmed, I. Stock assessment of blue swimming crab Portunus pelagicus (Linnaeus, 1758) from Pakistani waters (northern Arabian Sea). Pakistan J. Zool. 2016, 48, 1531–1541. [Google Scholar]
- Kalhoro, M.A.; Liu, Q.; Memon, K.H.; Chang, M.S.; Zhang, K. Population dynamics of Japanese threadfin break Nemipterus japonicus from Pakistani waters. Acta Oceanol. Sin. 2014, 33, 49–57. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Kalhoro, M.A.; Liu, Q.; Memon, K.H.; Chnag, M.S.; Jatt, A.N. Estimation of maximum sustainable yield of Bombay duck, Harpodan nehersus fishery in Pakistan using the CEDA and ASPIC packages. Pakistan J. Zool. 2013, 45, 1757–1764. [Google Scholar]
- Kalhoro, M.A.; Tang, D.; Ye, H.J.; Morozov, E.; Wang, S.; Buzdar, M.A. Fishery appraisal of family Portunidae portunus spp. using different surplus production models from Pakistani waters, northern Arabian Sea. Pakistan J. Zool. 2018, 50, 135–141. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Kalhoro, M.A.; Liu, Q.; Memon, K.H.; Waryani, B.; Soomro, S.H. Maximum sustainable yield of greater lizardfish Saurida tumbil fishery in Pakistan using CEDA and ASPIC packages. Acta Oceanol. Sin. 2015, 34, 68–73. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Kalhoro, M.A.; Liu, Q.; Valinassab, T.; Waryani, B.; Memon, K.H.; Abbasi, A.R. Population dynamics of Greater lizardfish Saurida tumbil from Pakistani waters. Pakistan J. Zool. 2015, 47, 921–931. [Google Scholar]
- Kalhoro, M.A.; Liu, Q.; Waryani, B.; Panhwar, S.K.; Memon, K.H. Growth and mortality of brushtooth lizardfish Saurida undosquamis from Pakistani waters. Pakistan J. Zool. 2014, 46, 139–151. [Google Scholar]
- Kalhoro, M.A.; Tang, D.; Ye, H.J.; Morozov, E.; Liu, Q.; Memon, K.H.; Kalhoro, M.T. Population dynamics of Randall’s threadfin bream Nemipterus randalli from Pakistani waters, Northern Arabian Sea. Indian J. Geo Mar. Sci. 2017, 46, 551–561. [Google Scholar]
- Froese, R.; Demirel, N.; Coro, G.; Kleisner, K.M.; Winker, H. Estimating fisheries reference points from catch and resilience. Fish Fish. 2017, 18, 506–526. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Pauly, D.; Morgan, G.R. Length-Based Methods in Fisheries Research; World Fish: Penang, Malaysia, 1987. [Google Scholar]
- Liang, C.; Xian, W.; Liu, S.; Pauly, D. Assessments of 14 exploited fish and invertebrate stocks in Chinese waters using the LBB method. Front. Mar. Sci. 2020, 7, 314. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Ahmad, A. Gwadar: A historical kaleidoscope. Policy Perspect. J. Inst. Policy Stud. 2016, 13, 149–166. [Google Scholar]
- Psomadakis, P.N. Field Identification Guide to the Living Marine Resources of Pakistan; FAO: Rome, Italy, 2015; pp. 169–312. [Google Scholar]
- Palomares, M.L.D.; Froese, R. Training on the Use of CMSY for the Assessment of Fish Stocks in Data-Poor Environments. In Workshop Report Submitted to the GIZ by Quantitative Aquatics, Inc. Q-Quatics; Technical Report No. 2; Quantitative Aquatics, Inc.: Laguna, Philippines, 2017; pp. 4–16. [Google Scholar]
- Froese, R.; Winker, H.; Coro, G.; Demirel, N.; Tsikliras, A.C.; Dimarchopoulou, D.; Scarcella, G.; Probst, W.N.; Dureuil, M.; Pauly, D. A new approach for estimating stock status from length frequency data. ICES J. Mar. Sci. 2018, 75, 2004–2015. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Plummer, M. JAGS: A program for analysis of Bayesian graphical models using Gibbs sampling. In Proceedings of the 3rd International Workshop on Distributed Statistical Computing, Vienna, Austria, 20–22 March 2003; Volume 124, pp. 1–10. [Google Scholar]
- Ogle, D.H. Introductory Fisheries Analyses with R; Chapman and Hall/CRC: Boca Raton, FL, USA, 2018. [Google Scholar]
- Amorim, P.; Sousa, P.; Jardim, E.; Menezes, G.M. Sustainability status of data-limited fisheries: Global challenges for snapper and grouper. Front. Mar. Sci. 2019, 6, 654. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Von Bertalanffy, L. A quantitative theory of organic growth (inquiries on growth laws. II). Hum. Biol. 1938, 10, 181–213. [Google Scholar]
- Holt, S.J. The evaluation of fisheries resources by the dynamic analysis of stocks, and notes on the time factors involved. ICNAF Spec. Publ. 1958, 1, 77–95. [Google Scholar]
- Froese, R.; Winker, H.; Gascuel, D.; Sumaila, U.R.; Pauly, D. Minimizing the impact of fishing. Fish Fish. 2016, 17, 785–802. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Haddon, M. Modelling and Quantitative Methods in Fisheries; Chapman and Hall/CRC Press: London, UK, 2011; p. 449. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Wasim, M.W.K.; Abbas, G. Review on Fisheries Resources and the Effect of Marine Pollution in Coastal Waters of Pakistan. J. Zool. Syst. 2024, 2, 23–43. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
Stock | Bstart/K | Bint/K | Bend/K |
---|---|---|---|
L. nebulosus | 0.2–0.6 | 0.5–0.9 | 0.2–0.6 |
Scientific Name | Common Name | Min Length (cm) | Max Length (cm) | Numbers | Linf Prior (cm) | Z/k Prior | M/k Prior | F/k Prior | Lc Prior (cm) | Alpha Prior |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Lethrinus nebulosus | Spangled Emperor | 28 | 58 | 7230 | 57.9 | 0.783 | 1.5 | 0.3 | 38.8 | 16.6 |
BRPs | r/yr | K/mt | MSY/mt |
---|---|---|---|
CMSY | 0.436 | 17,900 | 1920 |
BSM | 0.375 | 20,000 | 1870 |
Parameters | Value | 95% CI |
---|---|---|
FMSY | 0.187 | 0.115–0.305 |
MSY | 1870 | 1550–2260 |
BMSY | 9980 | 6.54–15.2 |
Last year biomass | 5570 | 3540–8220 |
Relative biomass B/BMSY | 0.557 | 0.355–0.824 |
Last year fishing mortality | 0.459 | 0.311–0.721 |
Relative exploitation rate F/FMSY | 2.47 | 1.54–5.57 |
Scientific Name | Lmean/Lopt | Lc/Lc-opt | L95th/Linf | B/B0 | B/BMSY | F/M | F/k | Z/k | Stock Status |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
L. nebulosus | 0.93 | 0.90 | 0.99 | 0.66 | 0.85 | 2 | 2.8 | 4.14 | Overfished |
Region | Assessment Method | Assessed Year | Assessment Results | References |
---|---|---|---|---|
India Cochin | FiSAT model | 1994 | Overfished E = 0.94 | [27] |
United Arab Emirates | Beverton and Holt yield per recruitment model | 2006 | Overfished E = 0.64 | [28] |
Iran Persian Gulf and Oman Sea | FiSAT model | 2010 | Overfished E = 0.50 | [29] |
Western Australia | Von Bretalanffy Growth model | 2011 | Overfished F = 1.5 | [30] |
India Toothukudi | FiSAT model | 2012 | Overfished Z = 1.15 | [31] |
India Toothukudi Coast | FiSAT model | 2012 | Overfished E = 0.54 | [32] |
Saudi Arabia | FiSAT model | 2017 | Overfished E = 0.59 | [33] |
United Arab Emirates | Osteometrical methods | 2018 | Overfished R2 = 0.98 | [34] |
India Tamil Nadu | FiSAT model | 2019 | Overfished E = 0.54 | [35] |
Pakistan Balochistan Coast | CMSY and LBB | 2022 | Overfished F/FMSY = 2.47 F/M = 2 | Present study |
Disclaimer/Publisher’s Note: The statements, opinions and data contained in all publications are solely those of the individual author(s) and contributor(s) and not of MDPI and/or the editor(s). MDPI and/or the editor(s) disclaim responsibility for any injury to people or property resulting from any ideas, methods, instructions or products referred to in the content. |
© 2025 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
Share and Cite
Baloch, A.; Liu, Q.; Kalhoro, M.A.; Memon, A.M.; Barua, S.; Chen, X.; Raza, H.; Ma, Y. Assessment of the Fish Stock Status of the Spangled Emperor Lethrinus nebulosus Along the Coast of Balochistan, Pakistan. J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2025, 13, 481. https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse13030481
Baloch A, Liu Q, Kalhoro MA, Memon AM, Barua S, Chen X, Raza H, Ma Y. Assessment of the Fish Stock Status of the Spangled Emperor Lethrinus nebulosus Along the Coast of Balochistan, Pakistan. Journal of Marine Science and Engineering. 2025; 13(3):481. https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse13030481
Chicago/Turabian StyleBaloch, Aidah, Qun Liu, Muhsan Ali Kalhoro, Aamir Mahmood Memon, Suman Barua, Xu Chen, Hasnain Raza, and Yihong Ma. 2025. "Assessment of the Fish Stock Status of the Spangled Emperor Lethrinus nebulosus Along the Coast of Balochistan, Pakistan" Journal of Marine Science and Engineering 13, no. 3: 481. https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse13030481
APA StyleBaloch, A., Liu, Q., Kalhoro, M. A., Memon, A. M., Barua, S., Chen, X., Raza, H., & Ma, Y. (2025). Assessment of the Fish Stock Status of the Spangled Emperor Lethrinus nebulosus Along the Coast of Balochistan, Pakistan. Journal of Marine Science and Engineering, 13(3), 481. https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse13030481