Feeding study of Yellowtail scad, Atule mate (Cuvier, 1833) in the Persian Gulf & Oman Sea (Hormozgan province waters)

This study was conducted to evaluate the Yellowtail scad feeding (Atule mate) in the Persian Gulf and  Oman Sea (Hormozgan province) by gill net fishing from Dec.2016 to Nov.2017 monthly and seasonally.  Gastro-somatic index (GASI), CV , food preference index (FP), and frequency of food items were determined  from 447 specimens. The maximum point of GaSI index was shown in June. The CV index for this species during the study was 65.32% . According to the volume of fish digested, Encrasicholina punctifer and Sardinella sp were the basic and secondary foods , respectively. Squid and crustaceans could be considered as the incidental foods. Regarding to the species diversity of Carangidae family and importance of relation between food items, it is recommended that comprehensive feeding study of all species of this family should be carried out .