Volume 2 - No: 3
The length-weight and length-length relationships of bluefish, Pomatomus saltatrix (Linnaeus, 1766) from Samsun, middle Black Sea region
- Melek Özpiçak
Ondokuz Mayis University, Faculty of Art and Sciences, Biology Department, Atakum, Samsun, Turkey
- Semra Saygın
Ondokuz Mayis University, Faculty of Art and Sciences, Biology Department, Atakum, Samsun, Turkey
- Nazmi Polat
Ondokuz Mayis University, Faculty of Art and Sciences, Biology Department, Atakum, Samsun, Turkey
Keywords: Pomatomus saltatrix, length-weight parameters, Samsun, middle Black Sea, Turkey
Abstract
In this study, length-weight relationship (LWR) and length-length relationship (LLR) of bluefish, Pomatomus saltatrix were determined. A total of 125 specimens were sampled from Samsun, the middle Black Sea in 2014 fishing season. Bluefish specimens were monthly collected from commercial fishing boats from October to December 2014. All captured individuals (N=125) were measured to the nearest 0.1 cm for total, fork and standard lengths. The weight of each fish (W) was recorded to the nearest 0.01 g. According to results of analyses, there were no statistically significant differences between sexes in term of length and weight (P˃0.05). The minimum and maximum total, fork and standard lengths of bluefish ranged between 13.5-23.6 cm, 12.50-21.80 cm and 10.60-20.10 cm, respectively. The equation of length-weight relationship were calculated as W=0.008TL3.12 (r2>0.962). Positive allometric growth was observed for bluefish (b>3). Length-length relationship was also highly significant (P<0.001) with coefficient of determination (r2) ranging from 0.916 to 0.988.