Age, growth and mortality of the Bartail Flathead (Platycephalus indicus) in Bardawil lagoon, North Sinai, Egypt.

Abstract

Age, growth, and mortality of bartail flathead (Platycephalus indicus) were studied from a small-scale fishery of Bardawil lagoon, North Sinai, Egypt. A total of 947 specimens of Platycephalus indicus varied from 17.9 to 52.1 cm TL with weights ranging between 27.6 and 1003.7 g were collected from August to December during two fishing seasons 2019-2020. A subsample of 654 specimens was taken for age determination using otoliths readings. The relationship between length and weight was W = 0.002 L3.3402 (R2 = 0.98) indicating positive allometric growth. Age was determined and age groups 0 to 5 years were observed. Growth in length and weight at the end of each year of life was calculated. The growth parameters of von Bertalanffy equation were calculated as L∞ = 59.98 cm TL, K = 0.34 yr-1, t0 = -0.44 year and W∞ = 1737.9 g. The growth performance index was calculated as φ = 3.09 for length and φ= 1.69 for weight. Mortality rates were 1.152 yr-1, 0.482 yr-1 and 0.67 yr-1 for total, natural and fishing mortality, respectively. The current exploitation rate (E) was 0.583 for both sexes combined.