Estimating the best growth model of obtuse barracuda (Sphyraena obtusata) in the Persian Gulf waters (Hormozgan Province)

This study was conducted to estimate length-weight parameters of obtuse barracuda (Sphyraena obtusata) in fishing grounds of the Persian Gulf and Oman Sea (Hormozgan province) during 18 months from September 2019 to February 2021. Sampling was done using mid-water trawlers, Goshgir and Moshta nets. Totally, 443 samples including 206 males and 237 females were subjected to biometric measurements and sex determination. Investigating growth curves using theoretical informative approach of MMI revealed that a three parameterized Von Bertalanfy and two parameterized Von Bertalanfy were the best models fitting to describe the growth of males and females obtuse barracuda (S.obtusata), respectively. Regarding growth models tested in the present work, L∞, K, and the birth size were 30.34 cm, 0.485 y-1 and 10.38cm for female obtuse barracuda, and 28.27 cm, 0.56 y-1 and 9.41 cm for male obtuse barracuda. According to likelihood method, growth curves of male and females were significantly different (p<0.05). growth performance index (phi-prime, φ') were 2.64 , 2.65 and 2.61 for males , females and total population. Findings presented here showed that using a MMI approach and testing various models are recommended to better understand and select the best growth model of the commercial and valuable species obtuse barracuda (S.obtusata).