Population biology of sparid fishes in qatari waters : 4. Growth and mortality of longspine sea bream (argyrops spinifer)

Abstract

Age, growth and mortality of longspine scabrcam, Argyrops spinifer in the Arabian Gulf waters off Qatar were investigated. The study was conducted on 664 fish obtained from Qatar National Fishing Company. The results revealed that the maximum age of studied fish was 18 years. The length / scale relationship was L (cm) = - 7.1478 + 0.232TS (r=0.925). The relationship between total length (cm) and total weight (g) was best fit by a curvilinear equation : W = 0.0398TL2'7376. The Von Bertalcnffy growth equation obtained from back - calculated data was : Lt = 81[l-c-°-094(t + 1-08>]. Estimated instantaneous total mortality estimate (Z), natural mortality (M) and fishing mortality (F) were 0.43, 0.29 and 0.14/ year, respectively.