Fish species sold in the Kikori market, Papua New Guinea, with special reference to the Nurseryfish, Kurtus gulliveri (Perciformes: Kurtidae)

The Kikori River has about 100 species of freshwater fishes with the equal highest percentage of endemism of any drainage system in New Guinea. The Nurseryfish (Kurtus gulliveri) is a distinctive euryhaline species from southern New Guinea and northern Australia where it is not known to be a commercial species. To the best of our knowledge, we report for the first time, the commercial use of Kurtus gulliveri, from the Kikori River estuary which was the most common species sold in the market. The Ariidae was the most common family represented. Fishes from 10 families and 16 species were identified during three Market surveys (17th, 19th and 23rd of January 2012). This survey was undertaken before the spread of Tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus), an introduced species that has rapidly become widespread in the Kikori delta. Long-term monitoring programs are urgently needed in this area to evaluate the population trends not only for the Nurseryfish but all native species. Market surveys are especially relevant in remote communities that rely heavily on subsistence fisheries. During these surveys, new scientific and cultural knowledge can be obtained for unusual species, such as the Nurseryfish.