Demographic parameters and exploitation of the endemic cyprinid,

Hypselobarbus kurali (Red-tailed Barb) is a commercially important food fish that is endemic to the Western Ghats biodiversity hotspot and is extensively harvested from rivers in the state of Kerala, India. The present study investigates the fishery, demographic characteristics, and exploitation pattern of H. kurali, in five river systems situated within the Southern Western Ghats. The monthly catches of this species from different landing centres across the rivers ranged from 52.5 (January) to 133.8 kg (July). The estimated growth parameters of H. kurali include an asymptotic length (L∞) ranging between 263.55 and 368.55 mm and growth coefficient (K) varying from 0.42 to 0.82 yr−1 across different rivers. The total mortality (Z) ranged between 0.90 yr−1 and 2.17 yr−1 while the fishing mortality (F) was estimated between 0.41 yr−1 and 1.37 yr−1. The fishing mortality rate observed for H. kurali in the Periyar River of 1.37 yr−1 seems to be among the highest ever documented for this species. This rate raises concerns about a potentially indiscriminate level of exploitation by local fishers in the river. The current exploitation rate (E), which varies from 0.44 to 0.63 yr−1, exceeds the optimum exploitation level (E = 0.47) in Periyar, Pampa and Muvatupuzha rivers. It indicates that unmanaged fishing may have resulted in unsustainable exploitation, making this cyprinid population in Western Ghats rivers at risk of an imminent collapse. Enforcing measures like implementing fishing closures during spawning seasons, imposing restrictions on mesh sizes and establishing non-fishing zones can contribute to sustainable fisheries management of H. kurali.