VALIDATION OF LENGTH FREQUENCY ANALYSIS FOR BOOPS BOOPS (BOGUE) GROWTH ESTIMATION

Scales reading and length frequency distribution were used for age determination and growth estimation of Boops boops (Bogue) stock of Western Mediterranean Coast of Egypt. Age determination using scale was done and the time of annulus formation was detected by the marginal increment index. Bhattacharya’s method was used for length frequency analysis. Both methods showed 6 age groups. ANOVA test revealed insignificant differences between both estimates of length at age results. Growth parameters estimated using length-at-age data from both methods confirming the age determination results. Growth performance index indicated high similarity between the two estimates. The results revealed the compatibility of length frequency distribution to scale reading for stock assessment studies of bogue stock in Western Mediterranean Coast of Egypt.