Studies on the Age, Growth and Mortality Rates of Indian Oil Sardine, Sardinella longiceps Valenciennes, 1847 off Oman Sea, Muscat, Sultanate of Oman

Abstract

Investigations have been carried out on the age, growth and mortality of sardine Sardinella longiceps based on the length frequency data. The hypothetical asymptotic length (L∞) and growth coefficient (K) were estimated as 220.3 mm and 1.209 yr-1 respectively. The species grows from 155 and 200 mm at the end of 1 and 2 years of life. The life span appeared to be around 2 years of species life. The total (Z), natural (M) and fishing (F) mortalities were represented as 4.11 yr-1, 2.21 yr-1 and 1.91 yr-1 respectively. The exploitation rate (E) was 0.46. The exploitation rate suggested that the stock was below the optimum level of exploitation. As a management plan, there is a need to increase the fishing scale and protecting spawning season to maintain sustainability over time.

Keywords: The Hypothetical Asymptotic Length; Growth Coefficient; Mortalities; Exploitation Rate; Sustainability.