Estimation of Growth Parameter on Sailfin Catfish (Pterygoplichthys pardalis) in Bengawan Solo River, Central Java Province

Bengawan Solo river 548.53 km is the longest river in Java Island Indonesia, which crosses provinces of Central Java and East Java. Bengawan Solo river is heavily polluted by agricultural, industrial and domestic wastes, especially in Surakarta Residence, Central Java. The impacts of pollution in Bengawan Solo river are poor water quality, the population of native fish has declined sharply and some were almost extinct. The fish that develop was Sailfin catfish (Pterygoplichthys pardalis) because these fish were resistant to pollution. The study aimed to determine the growth parameters of Sailfin catfish (P. pardalis) in Bengawan Solo river. Estimation of growth parameter using length frequency data analysis was done using the FISAT program package. The results of growth parameters of Sailfin catfish (P. pardalis) showed that infinity length (L∞) = 41.75 cm; acceleration of growth (K) = 0.48 cm/year. Natural mortality (M) = 1,1; fishing mortality (F) = 2.47; and total mortality (Z) = 3.57. Exploitation rate (E) = 0.69. The conclusion is the fishing mortality of Sailfin catfish is quite high, while natural mortality is low because the fish are resistant to pollution.