POPULATION DYNAMICS OF THE GREATER LIZARDFISH, SAURIDA TUMBIL IN THE GULF OF SUEZ, RED SEA, EGYPT

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

National Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries

Abstract

Lizard fishes are the most abundant demersal fishes inhabiting the -AGulf-of-Suez. They -were- exploited by-traw! fishery and constkuteabout 31% of the total trawl catch. Age and growth were studied from samples collected during the period from October 2003 to May 2004. Age was determined using otolith's readings. Age and growth rates were
different between the two sexes, where females reach greater sizes than males. The age distribution covered age groups I and II for males.and 1 to V for females. The estimated von Bertalanffy growth parameters were U=34.7 cm TL, K = 0.44 year'1 and Woo = 321.13 g. The instantaneous total natural and fishing mortalities were 1.29, 0.24 and 1.05 year"1 respectively,while the exploitation ratio was 0.81. The relative yield per recruit analysis confirmed that this species was heavily exploited and the exploitation rate should be decreased by rising the length at first capture. This can be
achieved through regulating the mesh sizes and proposed minimum length at first capture.

Keywords

Main Subjects