Spawning season and size at maturity of a migrated fish, Randall's threadfin bream (Nemipterus randalli) in Iskenderun bay, northeastern Mediterranean, Turkey

Abstract

In this study, the information of spawning season and size at first maturity for Randall's threadfin bream (Nemipterus randalli Russell, 1986) needed for the rational management of the fishing activity were obtained. To study the spawning session and size at maturity of the 217 female Randall's threadfin bream (totally 587) samples were collected from the northeastern Mediterranean in Iskenderun Bay between February 2012 and January 2013. This study indicates that the GSI value of the species increases from February, arriving the highest level between April and May and then decreased. The months in which the most of individuals in the maturity stage were March, April and May. In other months, there are more 1 and 2 in the period of female gonad. No significant difference was observed for the length at first maturity between male and female of Randall's threadfin bream (t-test, P<0.01). The study estimates a logistic curve about the mean length at first sexual maturity (Lm) of 11.02 cm for the fish species in Iskenderun Bay. © by PSP.