Abstract

This study focuses on spatio-temporal distribution and batch fecundity of the brown comber (Serranus hepatus L.,1758) along the Turkish Coasts of the North Aegean Sea. The fish samples were collected during various bottom trawl surveys conducted with R/V K. Piri Reis between the years of 1991 and 1996. The percentage of contributions of the brown comber to the total catch were varied between 0.41% and 4.35% at depths up to 100 meters by the season. The brown comber individuals were also caught in deeper than 100 meters (up to 120- 130 m), but at lower percentages. A total of 346 brown comber randomly sampled during reproductive period (summer-time) and their total lengths ranged from 7 to 15 cm. Maximum batch fecundity is around 3000 eggs per female with a of mean 500-600 eggs by using the “hydrated oocyte method”. The results of the regression analyses showed that batch fecundity increased with total length, and larger brown combers have a significantly higher relative fecundity than younger ones.