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Turkish Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 2012, Vol 12, Num, 4     (Pages: 831-839)

Population Parameters of Whiting (Merlangius merlangus euxinus L., 1758) in the South-Eastern Black Sea

Naciye Erdoğan Sağlam 1 ,Cemil Sağlam 1

1 Ordu University, Fatsa Faculty of Marine Science, 52400. Fatsa, Ordu, Turkey DOI : 10.4194/1303-2712-v12_4_11 Viewed : 4052 - Downloaded : 3599 Whiting (Merlangius merlangus euxinus L., 1758) is one of the most commonly distributed species in the entire Black Sea coastal waters of Turkey. Population parameters of whiting were studied using 1884 specimens obtained off the coasts of Sinop, Samsun, Giresun and Ordu provinces (Turkey) in 2009-2010. Average annual length and weight increment was 2.41 cm (17.45%) and 14.99 g (75.47%), respectively. Maximum ages were determined as 5 yrs for females and 4 yrs for males. Mean lengths and weights for male and females were calculated as 14.5±0.06 cm; 22.60±0.274 g and 15.1±0.05 cm; 25.74±0.278 g, respectively. Average length and weight for both sexes were calculated as 14.9±0.04 cm and 24.42±0.201 g. Although females were observed as bigger in size in comparison to males, there was no gender dependent statistical difference in length-weight relationship in which W=0.0064 L3.0441 represents the whole population. Von Bertalanffy growth equation was derived as Lt=38.16 (1-e-0,124(t+2,583)) for females, Lt=26.26 (1-e-0.203(t+2,505)) for males and Lt=33.56 (1-e-0,141(t+2,654)) for both sexes. Instantaneous total mortality, natural mortality and fishing mortality rates were calculated as Z=1.68 yr-1, M=0.27 yr-1, and F=1.41 yr-1. Exploitation rate was E=0.84 yr-1. Keywords : Whiting, Merlangius merlangus euxinus, Eastern Black Sea, population parameters