Monthly Variation in Stock Density and Growth Performance of Juvenile Gilthead Seabream (Sparus aurata L., 1758) in Beymelek Lagoon, Antalya, Turkey

Abstract

This study carried out in Beymelek Lagoon from June 2006 to May 2007, to investigate monthly variations of stock density and growth performance of juvenile gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata L., 1758). Juvenile individuals of gilthead seabream were sampled monthly using gillnets with 40, 44 and 50 mm stretched mesh sizes and trammel nets with 56, 60, 70 and 80 mm stretched mesh sizes at three different areas of Beymelek Lagoon. During the study, a total of 1798 juvenile gilthead seabream were sampled by these nets. Juvenile gilthead seabream samples were first caught in June. Number of samples caught in this month was only 10 individuals, while reached to 140 individuals in July and 494 individuals in August. The smallest gilthead seabream caught in June was 18 g weight and 10.6 cm in length. It was determined that average weight and length of samples collected in this month were 29.2 g and 12.5 cm, respectively. Their average weight and length reached to 93.4 g and 18.2 cm until at the beginning of September being free commercial fishing for this species. In this period, specific growth rate also increased 116.3%. This increase lasted gradually until October.