Some biological aspects and population status of the bogue, Boops boops (Linnaeus, 1758) (Teleostei: Sparidae) caught by gillnets from the Egyptian Mediterranean waters off Alexandria

Abstract

The study of fishery biology and population dynamics was conducted for Boops boops collected from the commercial catches of gillnets operated in the Egyptian Mediterranean waters off Alexandria. A total of 880 specimens were sampled from the area between Sidi Kirayr to El-Montazah during the period 2018-2020. The length range varied between 11.0 and 20.0 cm TL with a mean of 13.98±1.19 cm and the total weight varied from 14 to 88 g with a mean total weight of 28.51±6.67 g. The length-weight relationship was computed as W= 0.0119 L2.9453 by using total weights and W= 0.0112 L2.9335 by using gutted weights. The mean condition factor (k) was 0.953±0.029 and the overall sex ratio (M: F) was 1.00:0.49. The von Bertalanffy growth parameters were estimated to be K= 0.38 yr-1, L∞ = 27.85 cm and tο=-0.443 yr. The growth performance index (Фˋ) was 2.47. The values of natural (M), fishing (F) and total mortality (Z) were calculated as 0.865, 3.845 and 4.710 yr-1, respectively. The current exploitation ratio (Ecur= 0.816) is high reflecting the high exploitation of this species. The yield per recruit and the relative yield per recruit were also studied and the results confirmed that the stock of B. boops is highly exploited and the management of the pelagic gillnets is required.