Life history parameters and stock status of the yellowstrip barracuda Sphyraena chrysotaenia (family Sphyraenidae) in the Gulf of Aqaba, Egypt

Authors

National Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries NIOF, Fisheries Division, Egypt

10.22092/ijfs.2025.133834

Abstract

Yellowstrip barracuda, Sphyraena chrysotaenia (Klunzinger, 1884) is exploited by gillnets along the Gulf of Aqaba coast, Red Sea, Egypt. Although barracuda species were caught in considerable amounts in the Gulf, there are no separate records for their catch. The population parameters of S. chrysotaenia were investigated in the Gulf of Aqaba, Egypt to cover the gap in the knowledge about the life history of the species in this area. A total of 590 individuals were examined by bi-monthly sampling from January 2021 to June 2023. The total length distribution of S. chrysotaenia ranged from 16.0 to 35.3 cm and the weight distribution from 25.0 to 240.0 g. Length- weight investigation showed that females were slightly heavier than males of the same size and both sexes showed negative allometric growth. The maximum ages resultant from otolith readings were six years for females and males. Growth parameters, L∞, K and t0 were estimated as 39.87 cm TL, 0.296/year and -0.52 year, respectively. Natural mortality of the stock was 0.64/year, and total mortality was 1.67/year, while fishing mortality was 1.03/year. Accordingly, the exploitation ratio was calculated as 0.62, indicating that the resource is currently under high fishing pressure, and any further increase in effort impact the fishery. Emax and E0.5 were 1.0 and 0.41, respectively and therefore, it is recommended to decrease the fishing effort to attain E0.5 or to keep it at its current level. To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first time to evaluate the age, growth and mortality rates of this species in the Gulf of Aqaba, and the findings of this study will be valuable for fishery managers and for sustainable exploitation.

Keywords

Iranian Journal of Fisheries Sciences
Volume 24, Issue 4
July 2025
Pages 705-715

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