Age, growth and reproductive biology of the saddled seabream (Oblada melanura) in the North Aegean Sea, Eastern Mediterranean

DABAN İ. B., İŞMEN A., ARSLAN İHSANOĞLU M., Cabbar K.

OCEANOLOGICAL AND HYDROBIOLOGICAL STUDIES, vol.49, no.1, pp.13-22, 2020 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 49 Issue: 1
  • Publication Date: 2020
  • Doi Number: 10.1515/ohs-2020-0002
  • Journal Name: OCEANOLOGICAL AND HYDROBIOLOGICAL STUDIES
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, Academic Search Premier, Agricultural & Environmental Science Database, Aquatic Science & Fisheries Abstracts (ASFA), BIOSIS, CAB Abstracts, Geobase, Pollution Abstracts, Veterinary Science Database
  • Page Numbers: pp.13-22
  • Keywords: saddled seabream, von Bertalanffy, mortality, spawning, fecundity
  • Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

This study determines the length distribution, length-weight relationship, age, growth parameters, mortality rate, sex ratios, length at first maturity and reproduction of saddled seabream (Oblada melanura) collected monthly by fishermen around the Northern Aegean Sea between November 2017 and October 2018. The length-weight relationship was calculated as W = 0.0091 x L-3.11 (R-2 = 0.95) and positive allometric growth was found. The condition factor and GSI varied between 0.81-1.58 and 0.01-9.61, respectively. The spawning season extended from May to July and peaked in June. Total lengths at 50% maturity were 18.97 cm for males and 18.83 cm for females. Parameters of the von Bertalanffy growth equation were: L-infinity = 29.91 cm, K = 0.27 per year, t(0) = -0.82 year and age varied between 1 and 8. The instantaneous rates of total mortality (Z) and natural mortality (M) were 1.36 and 0.58 per year, respectively. Rates for fishing mortality F and exploitation E were 0.78 and 0.57 per year, respectively. The mean absolute fecundity (F) was 117 075 +/- 23 243 oocytes, ranging from 19130 to 470 132.