Some aspects of population dynamics of juvenile hilsa shad (Tenualosa ilisha Ham.) from the Meghna river, Bangladesh

Population dynamics of the juvenile hilsa shad (Tenualosa ilisha) in the nursery ground of the Meghna River have been studied on the basis of the length cohort analysis of 8023 specimens. The growth parameters viz; asymptotic length (Lα), curvature character (K) and initial time (t0) were found to be 30.69 cm, 1.2 yrˉ¹ and 0.45 yrˉ¹ respectively. Curvature parameter indicates that jatka is a fast growth performer. The natural, fishing and total mortality were found to be 1.37 yrˉ¹, 1.41 yrˉ¹ and 2.78 yrˉ¹ respectively. Survival rate (S) was found to be 6.2%. A small difference was found between the age at first capture (Tc) and the recruitment age (Tr). Stocks of jatka seem to be overexploited and need to be conserved.