APPLICATION OF BIOMETRIC AND ELECTROPHORETIC METHODS FOR THE STOCK DISCRIMINATION OF HILSA (TENUALOSA-ILISHA) IN BANGLADESH WATER

The results of the discriminant function analysis of both morphometric and meristic characters showed that out of 19 morphometric and 5 meri stic characters, 12 morphometric and 3 meristic characters were highly significantly different from each other habitat area (Chandpur, Goala ndo. Chittagong and Khulna). Hence, there is the possibility of having at least four stocks of hilsa in Bangladesh. On the other hand, elect rophoretic analysis showed that the allele frequency difference was ob served at G3PDH-2, only for Kuakata population. Kuakata belongs to mar ine environment and other three stations (Goalando, Chandpur and Hatia ) belong to riverine and estuarine environments. Therefore, there is a possibility of having two stocks/races of hilsa, one the riverine sto ck and the other marine stock in Bangladesh water.