Stock enhancement of Culter mongolicus: Assessment of growth, recapture and release size in the Yangtze lakes

Abstract The release of piscivorous fishes is considered crucial to alleviate eutrophication and fish miniaturization, as well as to develop sustainable fisheries management strategy for Yangtze lakes. In order to promote the stock enhancement programme of a new released piscivorous fish species Culter mongolicus, growth, recapture rates, reproduction and impact of size-at-release for hatchery-reared juveniles were evaluated in three Yangtze shallow lakes during a five-year period. C. mongolicus displayed important growth capability with a body weight reaching commercial size (> 500 g) during the second released year and about 1500 g in the third year. However, a sharp decline of growth appeared quickly after several years of releasing, indicating possible issue of density-dependent growth caused by over-stocking. The recapture rates for one-month-old juveniles were less than 5%, but increased to more than 20 % when one-year-old fingerlings were selected as release size. Gonad examination and catch analysis showed that released juveniles could not succeed in building the recruitment stock due to over-fishing. Thus hatchery-reared juveniles should be released annually. Management actions that prioritize the release of fewer but larger fingerlings will improve the recapture rate and subsequent economic benefit. A new stock enhancement strategy that changes the present release-catch cycle from two years to one was proposed accordingly.