Categories
vol-31STOCK ASSESSMENT OF BARRACUDA, GENUS SPHYRAENA,
ALONG THE EGYPTIAN EDITERRANEAN COAST
SOHAIR M. ALLAM*, SAMIR N. FALTAS AND EVELYN RAGHEB
National Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries, AL-Anfoushy, Alexandria, Egypt
Keywords: stock assessment, yield-per-recruit, fishing mortality, exploitation ratio and
Sphyraena species.
ABSTRACT
The size range of the commercial catch of S. chrysotaenia (13-27 cm) was less than that
of S. flavicauda (17-41 cm) and S. sphyraena (15-44 cm). The exploitation ratio (E) was
relatively high for S. sphyraena (0.7893) as well as for S. chrysotaenia (0.625) and S.
flavicauda (0.6026). The length and age at first capture as well as that at recruitment were
found to be low for S. chrysotaenia (Lc = 17.24cm, tc = 1.17 yr, & Lr = 16.3cm,
tr = 0.93 yr
respectively). The highest values were recorded for S. sphyraena (Lc = 25.44 cm, tc =
1.7664 yr, & Lr = 21.2cm,
tr = 0.69 yr respectively). The present results revealed that at the
current level of fishing effort the yield-per-recruit of S. chrysotaenia is about 94 % of the
maximum sustainable yield. On the other hand, the current yield-per-recruit of S.
flavicauda is at its maximum sustainable yield while it is slightly higher than the maximum
sustainable yield for S. sphyraena. Therefore, increasing age at first capture for S.
sphyraena & S. flavicauda will be recommended for regulation of Sphyraena fisheries
rather than restricting fishing effort.
