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For aquaculture assessments, the length-weight relationship and condition factor are considered as standard methods for determining fish growth, its health and the potential yield. A year-long study was conducted to calculate length-weight relationships (LWRs) and condition factor (K) for seven fish species, Schizothorax niger (Alghad or snowtrout), S. curvifrons (Sattar snowtrout), Cyprinus carpio (Common carp), Carassius carassius (Crucian carp), Pethia conchonius (Rosy barb), Crossocheilus diplochilus (Kashmir latia) and Gambusia holbrooki (Mosquito fish) in Manasbal Lake. The results revealed that four captured fish species (S. niger, S. curvifrons, C. diplochilus and G. holbrooki) exhibited negative allometric growth, while other fish species (C. carpio, C. carassius, P. conchonius) exhibited positive allometric growth. LWR was significant at P < 0.01 in all seven fish species, with a coefficient of determination (R2) ranging between 0.73 to 0.96. The K was higher in C. carpio than C. carassius, P. conchonius, G. holbrooki, C. diplochilus, S. niger and S. curvifrons. The current study providing the LWRs and condition factor of seven fish species from Manasbal Lake, Kashmir will be helpful for the management of fish species as well as for assessing the ecological condition of the Lake.

Diversity, abundance and distribution pattern of the fish fauna are important aspects that need to be considered in order to frame the conservation and management strategies in any water body. To assess the composition, diversity and relative abundance of the fish fauna in the Manasbal Lake of Kashmir, the present study was carried out for two years (March 2018 - February 2020). A total of 22522 fish specimens were netted out during the sampling period, and the relative abundance and various diversity indices were used to assess the overall diversity of the inhabiting fish fauna. A total of 7 species belonging to two families, Cyprinidae and Poeciliidae, were reported, of which the family Cyprinidae was dominant in the catch. The relative abundance and diversity of the fish fauna showed spatio-temporal variation wherein Pethia conchonius was most abundant during spring and winter, while Gambusia holbrooki was most abundant during summer and autumn. Cyprinus carpio was found to be abundant during all the seasons at Site II and Site III as compared to native cyprinids, Schizothorax niger and S. curvifrons. The current study also indicated a good fish diversity in the lake which varies on spatio-temporal scales, showing maximum diversity during winter (Hʹ =1.498) and minimum diversity during summer (Hʹ = 1.247), while Site II showed maximum diversity (Hʹ =1.369) and Site I showed minimum diversity (Hʹ =1.085). Overall lake possesses good fish diversity that could be a great source of income for the local populace provided the fish assemblages are sustainably managed.

The current work was conducted to investigate fisheries dynamics, rate of growth, and mortality, along with demographic features of Schizothorax niger using length-frequency data collected monthly from Manasbal Lake from August 2020 and July 2022. The length data for estimation was categorized into 13 bins, and population parameters were explored utilizing various options in ELEFAN I, with the best fit (Rn = 0.282) calculated by means of the FiSAT-II application. TW = 1.94 TL 2.94 , with a  =  − 1.94, b  = 2.94, and an attuned r 2  = 0.77 were derived for the weight and length association. The growing performance metric (ϕ) was calculated as 2.80. S. niger harvested stock in Manasbal Lake was prevalent in length categories of 20.5 to 25.4 and 25.5 to 30.4 cm. Different growth attributes were valued utilizing length frequency statistics as L ∞  = 46.05 cm, k  = 0.30/year, and t 0  =  − 0.493 years. Over all mortality ( Z ), natural mortality ( M ), and fishing mortality ( F ) coefficients were evaluated as 1.43 year −1 , 0.56 year −1 , and 0.87 year −1 , respectively. The fish’s average length was assessed at the culmination of the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th year as 15.42 cm, 22.78 cm, 28.09 cm, 32.61 cm, 36.03 cm, and 38.53 cm, respectively. Recruitment patterns in S. niger from Manasbal Lake indicate a singular annual recruitment occurrence, exclusively observed during the month of June. The current value of the exploitation (fish harvest) ratio ( E ) was 0.61 by the size-transformed catch curvature method, found to be marginally lower than the maximum value ( E max ) of 0.699 depicting that the species is on the brink of overexploitation, and caution is required to maintain sustainability. The seasonal analysis of water quality parameters revealed that except for pH and free carbon dioxide, the other parameters showed pronounced temporal variations. Total alkalinity values were reflective of hard water type of the lake, and dissolved oxygen and free carbon dioxide values were reported to be suitable for S. niger.

The present paper is a review of the available literature on the significance of forage fish, the plethora of services they provide, and the threats faced by them. Forage fish are pelagic planktivorous species that operate as conduits of energy between the lower trophic level (plankton) and the upper trophic level (predators). A variety of ecosystem services are provided by them, from serving as prey for higher trophic levels to producing fish meal and oil. Forage fish have a consumption value for humans and cultural importance to many societies. Forage fish have faced constant natural and anthropogenic threats in the past, resulting in numerous fish collapses which subsequently impacted their predators. The economic benefit provided by forage fish has been estimated to be approximately $ 18.7 billion per annum. An introspection of the data on ecosystem services revealed lack of data on regulating and cultural services, eventually leading to a monetary underestimation and their commercial prioritization over the wider benefits they provide.

The experiments were designed to determine the effect of alpha-tocopherol acetate and ascorbic acid in extender on post-thaw motility, plasmalemma functionality, viability and chromatin damage of Zebu bull spermatozoa. Semen collected from three bulls of Sahiwal breed (Bos indicus) was diluted with tris-citric acid extender either containing alpha-tocopherol acetate or ascorbic acid at 0.5, 1.5, 2.5 and 3.5 mM or without any supplement (control) and cryopreserved. For each extender, thawing of three semen straws was performed at 37 degree C for 30 seconds for the assessment of sperm quality parameters. Sperm motility (%) remained similar in extenders containing alpha-tocopherol at 0.5. 1.5, 2.5 mM and control. Sperm plasmalemma functionality (%) was recorded higher (P less than 0.05) in extender containing 0.5, 1.5 and 2.5 mM alpha-tocopherol acetate than control. Sperm viability (%) was observed higher (P less than 0.05) in extender containing 0.5 mM alpha-tocopherol acetate. Sperm chromatin damage was similar (P greater than 0.05) in all experimental extenders containing alpha-tocopherol acetate and control. Extenders containing ascorbic acid 0.5, 1.5, 2.5, 3.5 mM did not improve sperm motility, plasmalemma functionality, viability and chromatin integrity. In conclusion, alpha-tocopherol acetate (0.5 mM) in extender improved the plasmalemma functionality and viability of frozen-thawed Zebu bull spermatozoa.