ABSTRACT:
Fish stock assessment is essential for the sustainable exploitation of fish populations. The stock status of Olive grunt Pomadasys olivaceus in both coastlines of Pakistan (Balochistan and Sindh) was studied using CMSY, BSM and ASPIC models based on the catch and effort data (2000 to 2022). The findings of B/B MSY in all models of Olive grunt were <0.5 pinpointing the stock is grossly overfished on both Coasts of Balochistan and Sindh. The estimated values of MSY using CMSY and BMS methodologies were 2440mt, 2670mt and 2430mt, 2650mt of Balochistan and Sindh respectively. A comparative analysis has also indicated while using the ASPIC model (Fox and Logistic) that Olive grunt was abundantly over-fished from Balochistan and Sindh Coast. The Fox and Logistic model estimated the MSY values 1585mt, 1379mt, 2990mt and 1697mt from Balochistan and Sindh for Olive grunt showing overfished correspondingly. These results showed that the Sindh coast was extremely overfished in the Olive grunt fishery compared with the Balochistan coast in the analysis with CMSY, BMSY and ASPIC.This study may provide scientific background to the government of Pakistan for the establishment of strategies for management and conservation policies of olive grunt fishery on both coasts of Pakistan, especially focusing on the Sindh Coast.
[Keywords: Pomadasys olivaceus, Sindh, Balochistan, CMSY, BSM, ASPIC