Growth, mortality and exploitation ratio of Otolithes ruber (Teleostei: Sciaenidae) in the Khouzestan Province

Otolithes ruber (Teleostei: Sciaenidae) is an important species in the Khouzestan province waters, Iran. Catch management of this species in region is required to be known some biological parameters such as growth and mortality. We used commercial fishing data and samples in the Choebdah and Hendijan landing near Abadan port to estimate population dynamic parameters for O. ruber. The population parameters were analyzed using the FAO-ICLARM stock assessment tool (FiSAT). The growth parameters of von Bertalanffy equation were as, L∞: 69.72cm, K: 0.53year-1 and t0: -0.16. The estimated value of total mortality, natural mortality and fishing mortality were 2.25, 0.84 and 1.41year-1, respectively. Exploitation ratio, E was estimated to be 0.63 year-1 and these high values of E indicated that the Otolithes ruber stock in the region waters is under fishing pressure