Title of article :
Age, Growth and Mortality of Atlantic chub mackerel, Scomber colias Gmelin, 1789 in the Mediterranean Waters of Morocco
Author/Authors :
Techetach ، Mohamed Environment and Health Team, Department of Biology - Polydisciplinary Faculty of Saf - Cadi Ayyad University , Kouali ، Hassnae Environment and Health Team, Department of Biology - Polydisciplinary Faculty of Saf - Cadi Ayyad University , Achtak ، Hafid Environment and Health Team, Department of Biology - Polydisciplinary Faculty of Saf - Cadi Ayyad University , Rafiq ، Fatima Environment and Health Team, Department of Biology - Polydisciplinary Faculty of Saf - Cadi Ayyad University , Lemhadri ، Ahmed Environment and Health Team, Department of Biology - Polydisciplinary Faculty of Saf - Cadi Ayyad University , Dahbi ، Abdallah Environment and Health Team, Department of Biology - Polydisciplinary Faculty of Saf - Cadi Ayyad University , Ajana ، Rabia Applied Biology and Pathology Laboratory, Department of Biology - Faculty of Science - Abdelmalek Essaadi University , Saoud ، Younes Applied Biology and Pathology Laboratory, Department of Biology - Faculty of Science - Abdelmalek Essaadi University
Abstract :
This work is a study of growth aspects and mortality of the Atlantic chub mackerel, Scomber colia, from the Mediterranean Moroccan coast. A total of 845 specimens were collected from commercial catches in M’diq Bay, whose total length ranged between 16.4 and 35.9 cm. The length-weight relationship was W = 0.0019 TL^3.4527 (r = 0.97) for the whole population. The Atlantic chub mackerel displays positive allometric growth. Otolith edge analysis indicated that opaque zones were formed between April and September and translucent ones during the remaining months of the year. The oldest individuals in the sample were 5 years old for both sexes. Von Bertalanffy growth parameters estimated for this species were: L∞ = 37.30 cm, k = 0.26 year^-1 and t_0 = - 2.19 year. The difference in growth between sexes is not significant. The estimated natural mortality was 0.59 per year.
Keywords :
Age , Growth , Mortality , Southwestern Mediterranean Sea
Journal title :
International Journal of Aquatic Biology
Journal title :
International Journal of Aquatic Biology
