Age, Growth and Reproduction of Goldband Goatfish (Upeneus moluccensis Bleeker (1855)) from the Gulf of Antalya (Turkey)

Abstract

We investigated the age and sex composition, growth parameters, sexual maturity, spawning season and fecundity of goldband goatfish (Upeneus moluccensis) n = 464 caught in Gulf of Antalya in the western Mediterranean Sea sampling, monthly between February 2002-August 2003. Age groups ranged between 0 and V, with the second year-classes dominating. Females made up 73.92% and males 26.08% of the specimens. The total length and weight of combined sexes ranged from 8.0-21.1 cm and 5.1-108.2 g, respectively. The von Bertalanffy growth parameters were estimated for combined sexes as: L∞ = 25.56, K = 0.136 and tn = -3.8289. Males and females matured at a total length of 11 cm and I year old. The spawning period occurred between July and October. © Medwell Journals, 2010.