Catch Per Unit of Effort of Benthosema pterotum in mid-water trawl net in northwest waters of Oman Sea

Myctophidae are one of the important and valuable resources of fishes in waters of Oman Sea. In this study, the catch rate and catch per unit of effort (CPUE) of Benthosema pterotum were investigated in northwest waters of Oman Sea (Jask fishing grounds). Sampling was conducted in spring and summer seasons of 2016 using a Persian Tiger trawler vessel equipped to a mid-water trawl net. Totally, 69295 kg B. pterotum caught in sampling period and 141 trawling operations. The minimum and maximum CPUE in each trawling were obtained as 13.33 and 1000 kg/h, respectively. In spring and summer season, maximum CPUE were obtained as 1000 kg/h and 333.33 kg/h, respectively. Mean CPUE (±S.E) of B. pterotum in spring and summer were calculated as 241.27±24.91 and 88.57±7.03 kg/h, respectively, that showed significant differences (P<0.05). Mean CPUE (±S.E) in 200-220, 220-240 and 240-260 m depth layers were obtained as 171.96±25.47, 167.67±23.62 and 151.38±24.07 kg/h that CPUE decreased with increasing depth, but did not indicated significant difference between these depth layers. Results of this research can be used in fishery management and exploitation method of valuable resources of myctophidae in waters of Oman Sea.