Breeding for conservation: case of an endangered Catfish, Clarias dussumieri (Valenciennes, 1840)

In an investigation to estimate the natural stocks of an indigenous, threatened catfish Clarias dussumieri (Valenciennes) in Kerala, India in 2011, only 208 individuals were obtained, revealing its vulnerability to extinction, while the exotic African catfish Clarias gariepinus (Burchell) was obtained throughout the year. Induced breeding of C. dussumieri was successful in captivity without stripping or sacrificing males by administering a synthetic hormone Wova-FH, at the optimum dosage of 1.0 ml kg-1 body weight for both males and females that resulted in fertilization and hatching rates of 97 and 99% respectively, and maximum mean effective fecundity of 5587±321. Mass seed production by induced breeding would facilitate suitable aquaculture programmes for conservation of C. dussumieri involving natural stock enhancement to protect them from the imminent threat of extinction. It is also recommended to revise the IUCN red list category of C. dussumieri from 'Near-Threatened’ to ‘Critically Endangered’.