Estimation of growth parameters and mortality rate of common carp (Cyprinus carpio, Linnaeus 1758) population in the southern Caspian Sea

Common carp (Cyprinus carpio) represents one of the most economically important fishspecies in the Caspian Sea. In this study, growth and mortality parameters among population of common carp was investigated. Sampling was carried out weekly, using beach seine in the south of the Caspian Sea from October 2006 to September 2007. As a contribution to elaborating management programs for common carp, the age and growth of this species was calculated via scale, growth parameters and mortality rate by length frequency data obtained from commercial fishing and research beach seines. Ten age groups were recorded from 1+ to 10+ years old, being dominated by 4 and 5 year-old fish. The growth parameters based on scale reading data by length at age analysis were FL∞= 71.52cm and K = 0.16 per year for total population, FL∞= 70.54cm and K = 0.15 per year for males, and FL∞= 72.00 cm and K = 0.16 per year for females, whereas by length frequency analysis, these values were estimated as FL∞ equals 72.0, 69.3 and73.0cm and K equals 0.18, 0.15 and 0.18 per year for total population, males and females, respectively. The total, natural and fishing mortality rates were 0.71, 0.29 and 0.42 per year, respectively.