POPULATION DYNAMICS OF UPENEUS JAPONICUS UTTUYN, 1782), FAMILY: MULLIDAE, FROM THE GULF OF SUEZ, RED SEA, EGYPT.

POPULATION DYNAMICS OF UPENEUS JAPONICUS
UTTUYN, 1782), FAMILY: MULLIDAE, FROM THE
GULF OF SUEZ, RED SEA, EGYPT.
MANAL M. SABRAH
National Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries, Suez Branch, P.O. Box 182, Suez, Egypt.
Corresponding author: B.O.Box 182, Suez, Egypt.
E-mail: [email protected]
Keywords: Family Mullidae; Upeneus japonicus; Growth parameters; Mortality rates;
Exploitation rate; Yield per recruit
ABSTRACT
The length frequency data of Upeneus japonicus collected from the Gulf of Suez during
the fishing season 2001/2002 were analyzed using the FISAT soft ware to estimate the
population parameters. The von-Bertalanffy growth parameters were calculated as L∞
=23.97 cm; K= 0.459 yr-1; and t0 =-0.125 yr. The mortality rates were computed as (Z) =
2.98 yr-1; (M) = 1.03 yr-1 and F=1.95 yr. The exploitation rate was estimated as Ecur= 0.65.
The Beverton and Holt (1966) model was applied to estimate the yield per recruit in order
to evaluate the status of the fishery. The results indicated that the stock of the U. Japonicus
in the Gulf of Suez is exposed to an over-exploitation and the current exploitation rate must
be reduced to maintain the optimum condition.