Preliminary estimation of growth, mortality and the exploitation rates of the silverbelly (Leiognathus klunzingeri Steindachner, 1898) population from the yumurtalık bight, northeastern mediterranean coast of Turkey

Abstract

This study was carried out to determine the growth characteristics, mortality and the exploitation rates of the silverbelly (Leiognathus klunzingeri). The von Bertalanffy growth constants for this species were $L_infty$ =10.28 cm, K=0.29 $year^{-1}$ , $t_o$ =-O.42 year, $W_infty$ =1.75 g, and it was estimated that the greatest growth occurred between age groups I and II for length and between groups III and IV for weight. The total mortality rate was estimated to be Z=0.9609, its components being M=0.6460 and F=0.314. In addition to this, it was found that the exploitation rate on the silverbellies distributed along the Yumurtalık Bight (Northeastern Mediterranean coast of Turkey) was insufficient.