Reproductive traits of the pompano, Trachinotus ovatus (Linnaeus, 1758), in the north-western Mediterranean

Abstract

This study describes for the first time the reproductive traits of the warm-water pompano, Trachinotus ovatus. Specimens were sampled from landings by artisanal fishing vessels in the NW Mediterranean. Monthly collections, from July 2010 through to September 2012, yielded 226 individuals (118 females and 108 males). The size at 50% maturity (L50) was estimated at 30.9 and 29.1 cm TL for females and males, respectively. Specific reproductive traits, such as oocyte size-frequency distributions, presence of recent post-ovulatory follicles along with oocytes in the final phases of gonadal development, and massive atresia in post-spawning individuals, indicated that pompanos are multiple batch spawners with asynchronous oocyte development and indeterminate fecundity. Monthly variations in the gonadosomatic index and in the phases of gonadal development indicated July and August as the spawning season. There were also noticeable inter-annual variations in spawning phenology, mean diameters of the oocytes, relative batch fecundity and eggs quality, all of which corresponded to changes in sea surface temperatures. This study enhances our understanding of the need for research into the reproduction of warm-water species, which are currently expanding into the increasingly warmer waters of the world's more northerly seas and oceans.