Several Reproductive Aspects of Fringescale Sardinella (Sardinella fimbriata, Valenciennes, 1847) from Pekalongan National Fishing Port, Pekalongan Regency, Central Java

The fringescale sardine (Sardinella fimbriata, Valenciennes, 1847) is one of the primary small pelagic fish commodities caught in the Java Sea. Overfishing and excessive exploitation can impact the sustainability of this fish resource in the wild. This study aimed to analyze various biological aspects of fringescale sardine, including sex ratio, growth patterns, condition factor, gonad maturity stage, size at first maturity, and size at first capture, which are essential for effective management efforts. Fish samples were collected from the Pekalongan National Fishing Port between June and September 2024. The specimens were obtained from the catches of fishermen operating in the Java Sea using mini purse seine fishing gear. The fish were measured, weighed, and dissected to obtain information on length, weight, sex, and gonad maturity stage. A total of 800 fish were collected during the study, consisting of 432 females and 368 males, revealing an unbalanced sex ratio. Both males and females exhibited negative allometric growth patterns, with females showing a higher condition factor compared to males. The catch was dominated by immature fish, and the size at first capture (Lc) was smaller than the size at first maturity (Lm) for both male and female fish.