Abstract

The greater forkbeard, Phycis blennoides is captured by commercial trawler, has minor commercial value in Türkiye. This study is the first knowledge on otolith biometry-fish size relationships of Phycis blennoides living in the northeastern Mediterranean Sea. A total of 208 the greater forkbeard individuals were caught by commercial bottom trawl at a depth of 200 to 400 m in the northeastern Mediterranean. Minimum-maximum total length and weight of obtained fish specimens were found as 16.9-38.7 cm and 31.06-415.0 g for females and 16.3-38.3 cm and 27.14-504.08 g for males respectively. The difference of the total length and weight between the females and males of P. blennoides was statistically insignificant (P>0.05). The determination coefficient value showed that there were a moderate relationships between total length-right and left otolith lengths, total length-right and left otolith breadths.