Some Biological Aspects and Stock Status of Goldlined Seabream Rhabdosargus sarba (Forsskål, 1775) from the Arabian Gulf of the United Arab Emirates

Evaluation of Rhabdosargus sarba caught from South Arabian Gulf of the United Arab Emirates was investigated using a combination of size frequency and biological data. Forked length ranged between 14.0 and 39.0cm. Length-weight relationship for combined sexes of R. sarba was estimated as W=0.0338*L 2.7807 . The spawning season of R. sarba was over a limit time period from November to February and the peaks were in January and February for males and females respectively. The overall sex ratio throughout the study period was 1:1.4 males to females, which was not significantly different from 1:1. The size and age at 50% sexual maturity was 22.01cm FL and 2.39years. The FiSAT II software was used to perform the estimate of growth, mortality and exploitation rate. Parameter values of asymptotic length L∞ and growth coefficient K were 41.94cm FL and 0.25y -1 respectively. Age at length zero to was estimated by substituting the asymptotic length and growth coefficient in Pauly’s equation. Instantaneous rate of total and natural mortalities were estimated as 1.09, 0.66 y -1 respectively. The length at first capture was obtained as 19.51cm that was smaller than the length at first sexual maturity. The rate of fishing mortality (F=0.43y -1 ) is higher than the optimum level (F opt =0.33y -1 ) and was close to limit (F limit =0.44yr -1 ) biological reference point, indicated that the resource is slightly over-exploited. Results also indicated that the reduction of current level of fishing mortality to optimum level will lead to reduction of exploitation rate by 23.08%.