Abstract
Summary It is recognized by the FAO that management of fish resources in the western Indian Ocean is complicated by the lack of data on the basic biology and landing statistics for exploited fish species. In this paper data are presented on the population biology of kingsoldier bream, Argyrops spinifer (Forsskal 1775), in the Arabian Sea with a view to contributing towards the development of management plans for its sustainable exploitation. Samples were obtained from the Omani artisanal hand-line fishery catch, January 2001–December 2002. Total length (LT) of fish sampled ranged from 20 to 68 cm (males) and 25 to 70 cm (females). The male : female ratio was similar up to 55 cm LT but the larger size-classes were composed predominately of male fish. LT/carcass weight (WC) relations for male and female fish were similar and the combined data produced an equation WC = 0.00005 × LT2.67. Marginal increment analysis indicated an annual cycle of opaque and translucent ring formation in otoliths that was related to the change in surface water temperature during the annual monsoon period. The opaque zone was completed in May and the translucent zone began to form in June. Female and male fish age ranged between 2 and 25 years. Both males and females exhibited similar asymptotic growth patterns; the combined von Bertalanffy growth function was Lt = 64.6(1 − e[−0.142(t + 0.489)]). Gonadosomatic indices and gonad condition of male and female fish indicated that the spawning season occurred between September and January. Size (L50) and age at first maturity (A50) were estimated to be 36.5 cm LT and 5.0 years for males and 37.2 cm LT and 5.6 years females, respectively. The results of this study provide fundamental information on the biology and population dynamics of A. spinifer in the Arabian Sea that can be used in management models for the continued sustainable exploitation of this species in the Omani demersal coastal fisheries.
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