Growth and Mortality Rates of Mediterranean Horse Mackerel (Trachurus mediterraneus Steindachner, 1868) Catches in Southeastern Coast of Black Sea Mediterranean Horse Mackerel Mortalities, Growth

Abstract

Abstract Age, growth, sex, and condition of the Mediterranean horse mackerel, Trachurus mediterraneus were studied in the Southeastern Coast of Black Sea from October 2018 to September 2019. Overall female:male sex ratio was 1:1.23, statistically different from unity. Total lengths ranged between 9.1-21.5 cm. Age determination based on otolith readings showed that the population comprised 0-7 age-groups. It was also found that length-weight relationship of all individuals W=0.0057*L3.1269. The results obtained showed that the growth pattern of the fishes was positive allometric. Growth parameters of the population were L∞=25.02 cm, K=0.1332 year-1, t0=-3.6341 years and W∞=134 g. Growth index Φ’ was 1.92 of all individuals studied. The length growth rate was rapidly during the early years of their lives. The instantaneous rates of total (Z), survival rate (S), annual (A), natural (M) and fishing mortalities (F) and exploitation rate (E) were 1.02 year-1, 0.36 year-1, 0.64 year-1, 0,31 year-1, 0.71 year-1 and 0.69 year-1. Trachurus mediterraneus was affected by fishing during the study period, according to the estimated E values.