Reproductive Biology of the Endemic Fish Etroplus suratensis (Cichlidae) from a Tropical Estuary in Southern India.

Etroplus suratensis (Bloch, 1790) is a highly exploited endemic cichlid fish species inhabiting the Cochin Estuary situated on the South-west coast of India. The study was conducted with the sample of 599 specimens with TL ranged 67–249 mm and TBW ranged 7–280 g. Females were predominant in the catches and the overall sex ratio was 1.00 : 1.18, which significantly deviated from theoretical 1 : 1 distribution with 45.9% males and 54.09% females. The pattern of gonadosomatic index and proportion of mature individuals suggest two peaks in the spawning season of E. suratensis occurred between May to August and November to January. The length at 50% maturity for males and females was estimated at 167 and 169 mm TL respectively. The absolute fecundity estimates vary between 2147 and 4432 eggs with an average of 3112 and the relative fecundity fluctuated between 18 and 23 eggs g^–1 with an average of 21. The results of the present study provide option to develop sustainable fishery management practices such as closed season, mesh size regulations and development of fishing sanctuaries to conserve this commercially important cichlid species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]