Sexual seasonal growth of the European anchovy (Engraulis encrasicolus) caught by mid-water trawl and purse seine in the southern Black Sea

Abstract

The seasonal growth pattern and size composition of the European anchovy, Engraulis encrasicolus caught by mid-water trawl and purse seine was studied in the southern Black Sea between October 2010 and April 2011. Total length (TL) and size distribution of females caught by purse seine was higher than males and females obtained from mid-water trawl (P < 0.05). The seasonal von Bertalanffy growth parameters, computed from monthly length–frequency distributions, were estimated as asymptotic length to which the fish grow (L∞) = 13.01 cm TL, growth-rate parameter (K) = 0.993 year−1, amplitude of the sinusoidal growth oscillations (C) = 0.800, and the time of the year when the growth rate is slowest, the winter period (WP) = 0.298 for males and as L∞ = 13.69 cm TL, K = 1.249 year−1, C = 0.950, and WP = 0.151 for females caught by mid-water trawl. The seasonal von Bertalanffy growth parameters for anchovy obtained from purse seine fishing in the Rize region were estimated as L∞ = 14.00 cm TL, K = 0.800 year−1, C = 0.980, and WP = 0.212 for males and as L∞ = 13.93 cm TL, K = 0.994 year−1, C = 0.725, and WP = 0.319 for females. The period of slowest growth for males and females estimated between February and April, which is the period with a relatively low water temperature and consequently anchovy in the southern Black Sea have a seasonal growth pattern.