Stock Status and Management of the Rabbitfish Siganus rivulatus in the Suez Bay, Gulf of Suez, Egypt.

Document Type : Original Article

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Abstract

The Rabbitfish, Siganus rivulatus is one of the most popular fishes inhabiting the Red Sea and migrated then widely distributed in the Mediterranean Sea. Monte Carlo method-based Surplus Production Model CMSY+ was used to predict the biological reference points (PRBs) for S. rivulatus using catch time series data 2000-2015. The Biological Reference Points for S. rivulatus are MSY= 4.04ton, B/BMSY= 0.398ton, Exploitation F/FMSY= 1.03, Carrying Capacity k= 5.62ton, The intrinsic growth rate of the fish population r=0.239 y-1. According to the above results, the current level of fishing pressure should be relatively reduced to ensure the sustainability of S. rivulatus in Suez Bay, Gulf of Suez. In addition, by decreasing the fishing pressure the ratio of B/BMSY could be increased from 0.392 to about unity to attain a healthy state
 

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