Journal of Marine Biology

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The aim of the present study is estimation of the growth parameters of anchovy kilka (Clupeonella engrauliformis Svetovidov, 1941) in the southern Caspian Sea. In this study which was conducted during 2010, the samples were provided from Babolsar fishing harbor in Mazandaran province. In the laboratory, the measurements were done and samples were sorted into length and weight size bins. Age was determined using sagitta otoliths. The results were compared with the previous years. The mean length and weight of fish were 116.78±16.5 mm and 12.59±4.2 g, respectively, which has increased in comparison with the previous years. The growth parameters for females were (L∞=138.7mm, k=0.55 yr^-1, t₀=-0.42 yr) and for males were (L∞=160.5mm, k=0.25yr^-1, t₀=-0.92yr). Length-weight relationship in females was W=0/00008 FL^2/50 (R²=0.902) and in males was W=0/00007 FL^2/52 (R²=0.921) which have an allometric growth pattern. Age composition of females was constituted of 6 age groups, including 2-7 years. For males, this was constituted of 7 age groups, including 1-7 years. Mean age of females and males were 4.58±1.43 and 3.86±1.62 years, respectively. In this species population, 4 years old fish were dominant with relative abundance 26.55 percent. Results showed that in recent years, anchovy kilka population has been older and its length and weight has increased. These changes can be due to the weak stock reconstruction process which has affected by invader ctenophore and over-fishing.

Keywords: Clupeonella engrauliformis, Caspian Sea, age, growth

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