Bycatch Composition of Myctophid Mid-water Trawls in Iranian Waters of the Oman Sea

This study was carried out in Iranian water of Oman Sea to estimate bycatch (incidental and discard) of myctophidae caught by trawlers. Total of 140 mid-water trawl hauls was performed during a period of September 2010 and March 2011 by using a net with mesh sizes of 10 mm at the cod-end. The study area extended from longitude 57? 00? to 58? 30? E. At present study 19 families (16 species of Teleosts, 3 species of Elasmobranchs and 3 species of invertebrate) were identified. Bycatch composition included 7.31% discards and 92.69% incidental catch. Percentage of total bycatch biomass to total myctophidae biomass was estimated 29.64% to 70.36%. Of the bycatch species, Trichiurus lepturus and Pennahia macrophthalmus had highest portion from total catch with 57% and 14%. Three elasmobranch families were caught in the myctophid midwater trawling. In in September to October the bycatch value was higher, which corresponded to the peak abundance of T. lepturus. Therefore the bycatch value for others months were lower than September and October. This study is the first comprehensive study of the Myctophid Midwater trawl bycatch from Iranian waters and it can provides basic information for fishery managers.