AGE AND GROWTH OF GILTHEAD SEA BREAM (SPARUS AURATA) FROM BARDAWIL LAGOON, NORTH SINAI, EGYPT

Atotal of 688 gilthead bream Sparus aurata was collected from Bardawil lagoon fishery during 2017 season. Total length ranged from 10.2 to 31.0 cm while total weight ranged from 13 to 442.5 g. The length-weight relationship parameters were a = 0.0132and b = 3.0224. Age was determined using otolith radius reading technique and the longevity of this species was found to be 5 years. and the parameters of the von Bertalanffy growth model were K = 0.338 year-1, L∞ = 32.16, t0= -1.324 cm and W∞ = 523.8g. Growth performance index φ′ was estimated as 2.5. The mortality estimates were 0.792year-1for total mortality (Z), 0.153year-1for natural mortality (M) and 0.554 year-1 for fishing mortality (F). The exploitation rate (E = 0.803) indicates that the stock of sea bream in the Bardwell lagoon is heavily exploited. The catch of Sparus aurata in Bardawil lagoon composed mainly of small sized individuals where up to 54.1% of this species lie in age group 0.