Sex-ratio, maturation and spawning of the Indian ilisha, ilisha melastoma (clupeiformes: pristigasteridae) in coastal waters of Pakistan (northern Arabian Sea)

Present study showed that the over-all sex-ratio deviated in favour of females in Ilisha melastoma. However, the sexratio was approximately 1:1 in certain months while in others it was in favor of females. Similarly the sex-ratio deviated from 1:1 ratio in different size-classes. Minimum size at which the specimens of I. melastoma get matured is 14.9 cm in total length (11.5 cm in SL). Four maturation stages of ovaries, namely, immature, ripening, ripe and spent/recovering were recognized in I. melastoma. Two peaks of spawning were observed in this species, the major peak was from February to May and the minor peak appeared in August to November.