Stock status of the bogue Boops boops (Walbaum, 1792) in Algerian West Coast (Southwestern Mediterranean Sea)

Abstract

The current study offered management-related information on the fisheries biology of Boops boops. A subsample of 2068 specimen ranging between 9 to 35 cm total length was obtained from 11 commercial catches on Western Algerian coast. To better understand the growth and mortality, distribution frequency of total length, total length–body weight relationship and age were analyzed for B. boops. The estimated parameters of the Von Bertalanffy growth were L∞=30.045 cm, K = 0.117 year−1 and t0=−2.919 year. The B. boops have a long life span (9 years) with growth performance index estimated at 2.03, and the study area seemed supported mainly by nine age groups. The instantaneous rates of total mortality (Z) was 0.418 year−1, natural mortality (M) was estimated at 0.24 year−1. Rates of fishing mortality (F) and exploitation (E) were 0.178 and 0.43 year−1, respectively. Regarding the fishing effort, the stock of bogue appears overexploited. The yield per recruit (Y’/R = 24.86 g) is very close to the MSY. This result indicates that the bogue’s stock is in a state of full exploitation. The MSY model is more prudent than MSE model in predicting the model.