Age Composition, Growth and Mortality of European Hake Merluccius merluccius (Linneaus, 1758) (Actinopterygii: Merlucciidae) from the Sea of Marmara, Turkey

Creative Commons License

Kahraman A. E., Yıldız T., Uzer U., Karakulak F. S.

Acta Zoologica Bulgarica, vol.69, no.3, pp.377-384, 2017 (SCI-Expanded)

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 69 Issue: 3
  • Publication Date: 2017
  • Journal Name: Acta Zoologica Bulgarica
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus
  • Page Numbers: pp.377-384
  • Istanbul University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

This study deals with the age composition, growth and mortality of European hake Merluccius merluccius (L.) from the Sea of Marmara, Turkey. A total of 777 European hakes were sampled monthly from October 2014 to September 2015. Total lengths of all sampled individuals ranged from 10.4 cm to 55.3 cm. The length–weight relationship for all samples was calculated as W = 0.9656 L2.989. The ages of the specimens ranged from 1 to 6. Growth parameters calculated according to the von Bertalanffy Growth Equation were L∞ = 106.358 cm, k = 0.082, t 0 = –1.097 for females, L∞ = 102.431 cm, k = 0.091, t 0 = –0.829 for males, and L∞ = 103.971 cm, k = 0.087, t 0 = –0.926 for all samples. According to age–structure analysis, the total, natural and fishing mortality rates were calculated as 2.01, 0.19, and 1.81, respectively. The exploitation rate, E = 0.90, indicated an over-exploitation on the European hake stocks in the Sea of Marmara.