A Study on Recent Variations in the Population Structure of European Anchovy (Engraulis encrasicolus L., 1758) in the Southern Black Sea

Abstract

This research was carried out to estimate variation of stock structure anchovy (Engraulis encrasicolus, L. 1758) (N=7487) of the in Sinop Turkish coast in the southern of the Black Sea between 2000 and 2003. The mean sex ratio was 59 % (female): 41 % (male). The b constant of weight-length relationships were 2.7101, 3.0568, 2.8946 and 2.8695 for 2000-2001, 2001-2002, 2002-2003, and 2000-2003 fishing seasons, respectively. The result showed that fish were 0-3 years old. The von Bertalanffy growth parameter value of L-infinity (cm) were 16.84 cm, 18.46 cm, 18.73 cm and 18.91 cm for fishing seasons, respectively. Total (Z), natural (M), fishing (F) mortality rates and exploitation rate (E) were Z=2.07 year(-1), M=0.30 year(-1), F=1.77 year(-1), E=0.86, respectively for overall samples.