Age and Growth estimation of forkbeard Phycis phycis (Linnaeus, 1766) [Actinopterygii, Gadiform, Phycidae] from the Gulf of Tunis

The age and growth of Phycis phycis(Linnaeus, 1766)were studiedfrom a sample of272 specimens collectedinthe Gulf of Tunislandings of the small-scale artisanal fisheries between September 2007 and June 2010.Length-weight relationships wereallometrically positive for the females(TW = 0.0083*TL3. 0703),males (TW=0.0063*TL3.1471), and both sexes(TW= 0.0082*TL3. 0759).No significant differences were found betweenmales and females(ANCOVA, p = 0.426). Symmetry between the right and left otolith was compared. Therelation between the total length (TL) of fish and the weight of the otolith (Wo) did not show a significantdifference between the right(Wo = 0.12 TL– 0.163)and left otolith (Wo = 0.11 TL– 0.124) (ANCOVA,p>0.05).The relationships between otolith radius and otolith weight with age, showed that there are nosignificant differences between males and females(ANCOVA,p>0.05). The growth parameters for females (TL= 73.43 (1- e-0.158 (t+1.709))), males (TL = 67.51 (1- e-0.168 (t+1. 993))) and all sample (TL = 65.73 (1- e-0. 135 (t+2. 025)))wereestimated. The females, with L∞ = 73.43 cm, grew faster thanthe males, whichL∞did not exceed 68 cm.Consequently, the index ofgrowthperformance (Ф:cm/an) of the females (Ф=2.929) was higher than that of themales (Ф=2.883).

The age and growth of Phycis phycis (Linnaeus, 1766) were studied from a sample of 272 specimens collected in the Gulf of Tunis la ndings of the small - scale artisanal fisheries between September 2007 and June 2010.Length - weight relationship s were allometrically positive for the females (TW = 0.0083*TL 3. 0703 ), males (T W= 0.0063*TL 3.1471 ), and both sexes (TW= 0.0082*TL 3. 0759 ). No signi ficant differences were found between males and females (ANCOVA, p = 0.426). Symmetry between the right and left otolith was compared. The relation between the total length (TL) of fish and the weight of the otolith (Wo) did not show a significant differen ce between the right (Wo = 0.12 TL – 0.163) and left otolith (Wo = 0.11 TL – 0.124) (ANCOVA, p>0.05). The relationships between otolith radius and otolith weight with age, showed that there are no significant differences between males and females (ANCOVA, p>0.05). The growth parameters for females (TL = 73.43 (1 - e - 0.158 (t+1.709) )), males (TL = 67.51 (1 - e - 0.168 (t+1. 993) )) and all sample (TL = 65.73 (1 - e - 0. 135 (t+2. 025) )) were estimated. The females, with L ∞ = 73.43 cm, grew faster than the males, which L ∞ did not exceed 68 cm. Consequently, the index of growth performance ( Ф : cm/an) of the females ( Ф =2.929) was higher than that of the males ( Ф =2.883).