Ege Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences

Abstract

Zeus faber L., 1758 specimens were collected from the coastal waters of the Western Anatolia (Aegean Sea), seasonal sampling from October 1993 to August 1995. In the population, females made up 57.2%, males 28.8% and unidentified 14% of the species. The total length of all specimens ranged from 6.5 to 50 cm. Mean total length at age data derived from otolith readings were used to estimate the growth parameters of von Bertalanffy equation. The estimated parameters were: L∞=60.71 cm, K=0.298, t0=0.326. The dominant age group was determined I (64.19%) in the population. The seasonal comparison of gonadosomatic index (GSI) indicated that the spawning occurred mainly in spring and autumn, partially. Z. faber fed mainly on fish (Cepola rubescens, Mullus barbatus, Sardina pilchardus, Gobius spp., Argentina sphyraena etc.) and Crustaceans and Molluscs. The mortality rates of Z. faber were found as follows: natural mortality (M), 0.17 y-1; fishing mortality (F), 0.75 y-1 and total mortality (Z), 0.92 y-1. The maximum and the minimum seasonal values for the biomass of Z. faber were found in autumn (862.8 tons) and winter (338.5 tons), respectively. Naturally, the Catch Per Unit of Effort (CPUE, Kg hour-1) was also found to increase and decrease with the biomass in respective seasons.