A Preliminary Study on the Population Dynamics Parameters of Whiting (Merlangius merlangus euxinus) in Turkish Black Sea Coastal Waters

Authors: ALİ İŞMEN

Abstract: Some population parameters of the whiting (Merlangius merlangus euxinus) distributed along the Turkish Black Sea coast, were determined by using age-length data. The mean annual growth rate in length was found to be 3.7 cm. The maximum age group was determined as IX for females and VI for males. The seasonalized von Bertalanffy growth parameters in length were estimated to be L_o=39.1 cm, K = 0.15 year^{-1}, t_o = -1.53 year, C=0.23, t_s=0.48. There was a difference in growth rate between male and female fish. The females grow faster than males and reach a greater maximum length. Total mortality and its components were Z=1.63, M = 0.39 and F = 1.24. The highest trawlable biomass was found in the region between Çaltı Cape and Sarp which is an area closed to trawl fishing in the eastern Black Sea. In the trawl catches, the whiting was the dominant fish.

Keywords: Black Sea, Merlangius merlangus euxinus, growth parameters, mortality, biomass

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