Stock assessment of oil sardine Sardinella longiceps Valenciennes 1847 (Clupeiformes: Clupeidae) in the northern Arabian Sea

Abstract

Length frequency data series of oil sardine <em>Sardinella longiceps</em> Val. from northern Arabian Sea along the west coast of India off Ratnagiri were used to model the growth, mortality rates and yield per recruit. Mean population parameters were; L_∞ = 233 mm (total length), K = 0.92 year^-1, t_o = -0.0023 year, Z = 5.23 year^-1, M = 1.45 year^-1, F = 3.78 year^-1and E = 0.72. Using VBGF, the length attained at the end of 1, 2 and 3 years of life was estimated at 140, 196 and 218 mm, respectively. The phi-prime (ɸ) value or the growth performance index was obtained as 2.70. Yield per recruit analysis showed that excessive fishing effort was being exerted on the stocks and a substantial reduction in fishing effort will be required for sustainability of the fishery.