Length-weight relationship and some growth indices of Vimba persa from the southwest coast of the Caspian Sea (Guilan Province- Iran)

Determining the age and growth of fish is vital in fisheries management and biology. This information is the foundation for modeling aquatic population dynamics and is employed to analyze fishing data. The relationship between length and weight and some other growth indices of Caspian Vimba persa was studied from autumn 1996 through spring 1997 on the southwestern coasts of the Caspian Sea (Astara, Anzali and Kiashahr).

Sampling was carried out seasonally using beach seine net at three fishing regions e.g., Kiashahr, Astara and Anzali. Each season 8 samples were taken at designated sampling stations (a total of 24 fish each season) except for 9 samples at Anzali stations in the autumn (25 samples in total). In total 73 specimens of Caspian Vimba persa were collected from the sampling stations.

Fish age varied in the range of 0+- 3+ in both females and males. The highest length frequency was observed in the length group of 14-25cm. Mean total length in the whole population, females and males were 18.05± 2.38; 18.61± 2.73 and 17.14±1.29 respectively. Mean total weight in the whole population, female and male were 65.62 ±33.98; 73.89± 39.43 and 52.32±15.78 respectively. Mean fork lengths in the whole population, female and male were 16.05± 2.66; 16.68±2.49 and 15.46± 1.17 respectively. Mean gonadosomatic index was 6.88 ± 4.23. Mean hepatosomatic index and obesity coefficient were 0.98±0.51 and 1.04±0.10 respectively.

Analysis of the obesity coefficient showed that the species upholds ‘good’ growth rate.  The Length-weight relationship for the whole population was W = 0.3403L3.403, female W= 0. 003 L3.365 and male W= 0.0047L3.2719. The t test showed that the obtained bvalue was greater than 3 thus the species has a positive allometric growth pattern. Since within the whole sampled fish the W> L3 and CF = K> 1 (obesity coefficient was greater than 1) relationship was applied, it can be concluded that the Caspian Vimba persa are more obese than usual which indicates good feeding condition of fish in the southwestern part of the Caspian Sea.