DOI: 10.14798/72.2.720
Bibliography
STOCK ASSESSMENT OF FRESHWATER MULLET, Liza abu (HECKEL, 1843) POPULATIONS IN THREE RESTORED SOUTHERN MARSHES, IRAQ
2014, 72 (2) p. 48-54
Abstract
The stock of freshwater mullet, Liza abu (Heckel, 1843), in the East Hammar, Huwazah and Chybaish marshes, south Iraq, was assessed between October 2005 and September 2006. The relative abundance of the species formed 35.9, 37.1 and 62% of the total catches in the three marshes, respectively. Length–weight relationships calculated for L. abu were: W = 0.0149 L2.899 (East Hammar), W = 0.0132 L2.910 (Huwazah) and W = 0.0252 L2.662 (Chybaish). Mean values of relative condition factor were 1.00, 1.02 and 0.98 for the three marshes, respectively. Growth and mortality parameters estimated for the species were L∞= 23.2cm, K = 0.37, Z = 2.125, M = 0.903 and F = 1.222 (East Hammar), L∞ = 21.1cm, K = 0.44, Z = 1.688, M = 1.055 and F = 0.632 (Huwazah) and L∞ = 20.0cm, K = 0.41, Z = 2.297, M = 1.006 and F = 1.291 (Chybaish). The stock of L. abu in the Huwazah marsh was unexploited (E = 0.375), while those of the East Hammar and Chybaish marshes were overexploited, E = 0.575 and 0.562, respectively. It is necessary to enforce immediate fishing regulation measures on the fish stock in the investigated locations and this can be assessed by activating the national law of fisheries management.
Keywords
abu mullet, liza abu, growth parameters, mortality rates, southern marshes