Age, growth, and reproductive season of bluefish (Pomatomus saltatrix) in the Marmara region, Turkey

Ceyhan T., Akyol O., Ayaz A., Juanes F.

ICES JOURNAL OF MARINE SCIENCE, vol.64, no.3, pp.531-536, 2007 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 64 Issue: 3
  • Publication Date: 2007
  • Doi Number: 10.1093/icesjms/fsm026
  • Journal Name: ICES JOURNAL OF MARINE SCIENCE
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus
  • Page Numbers: pp.531-536
  • Keywords: age, bluefish, growth, Pomatomus saltatrix, reproduction, Sea of Marmara, Turkey
  • Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

Bluefish (Pomatomus saltatrix) are distributed widely along the Turkish coasts, and are regularly captured, especially in the Sea of Marmara during their spawning migration to the Black Sea from the Mediterranean in spring and during their return migration south in early autumn. Age, growth, and reproductive season are reported. The ages of 1114 bluefish were determined from otoliths. The age groups ranged from 0 to III, and mean fork lengths (and weights) were 14.4 +/- 0.12 cm (38.2 +/- 1.02 g), 19.5 +/- 0.06 cm (93.7 +/- 0.86 g), 27.5 +/- 0.48 cm (238.5 +/- 11.3 g), and 33.3 +/- 0.50 cm (431.9 +/- 17.08 g) for each age group, respectively. The von Bertalanfly growth parameters were L infinity = 51 cm, K = 0.228, and t(o) = -1.26 y. The reproductive period, evaluated from gonadosomatic indices, began in early spring and extended until August.