Length-weight relationship and condition of Arnoglossus kessleri Schmidt, 1915 in Iskenderun Bay (Eastern Mediterranean, Turkey)

Abstract

Length weight relationship (LWR) studies have an important role in estimating population biomass, determining growth rate and stock status of fishes. In this study a total of 133 scaldback, Arnoglossus kessleri Schmidt, 1915 were caught in Iskenderun Bay between September 2014 and May 2015 using a commercial bottom trawler. As a result, the estimates for b parameter of the LWR ranged between and 2.97, 2.68 and 2.74 for males, females and both sexes, respectively. Fulton’s condition (KF) factor values also revealed significant variations (p<0.01) for female (1.089) and male (1.100) specimens of A. kessleri. The 11.9 cm long male individual found in this study was the longest individual recorded for the Mediterranean Sea. No information currently exists on the length weight relationship of A. kessleri in the Mediterranean coast of Turkey. Therefore, this paper is an important contribution to the science and fisheries management applications for this species.