The life history of Tenualosa macrura in Sarawak, further notes on protandry in the genus and management strategies

Abstract

The contraction of Tenualosa macrura (Bleeker) to the Sarawak coast and a small part of Sumatra, and the decline in its fishery mirror what has happened to three other species in the genus. Little was known of this species in its last stronghold in Sarawak where it is important for management and conservation reasons to understand its biology and life history. It forms part of a multispecies fishery where effort is uniform, but catches follow a lunar cycle. Tenualosa macrura is protandrous, but low numbers of small females suggest diandry. In Sumatra Tenualosa macrura spawn throughout the year, but in Sarawak have a seasonal peak in the NE monsoon (December). This has management implications because the Sarawak fishery ceases at this time because of adverse weather, hence reducing fishing pressure on spawning T. macrura . Management measures introduced in Sarawak for Tenualosa toli (Valenciennes) may therefore not be required for T. macrura .

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